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THE 

FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST 

SCIENTIST 

AND  MISCELLANY 


THE 

FIEST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST 

SCIENTIST 

AND    MISCELLANY 


BY 

MARY  BAKER  EDDY 

DISCOVERER  AND    FOUNDER   OF   CHRISTIAN   SCIENCE 

AND    AUTHOR   OF   SCIENCE    AND    HEALTH   WITH 

KEY   TO   THE    SCRIPTURES 


BOSTON,   U.S.A. 

Published  by  Allison  V.  Stewart 

Falmouth  and  St.  Paul  Streets 

1914 


COPYRIGHT,  19 13 

BY  THE  TRUSTEES  UNDER  THE  WILL  OF 

MARY  BAKER  O.  EDDY 


All  rights  reserved,  including  that  of  translation  into  foreign 
languages,  including  the  Scandinavian 


TBE>  PLIMPTOH'PKSSS 
NORWOOD*UASS>t;-8-A 


FOREWORD 

Lord  God  of  Hosts,  be  with  us  yet; 
Lest  we  forget  —  lest  we  forget! 

—  Kipling's  Recettional 

IN  these  stirring  times  of  church  building,  when  the 
attention  of  the  whole  world  is  fixed  on  Christian  Sci- 
ence, when  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  Cause  are 
matters  of  general  wonderment  and  frequent  comment, 
when  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  is  being  extended  to 
this  people  by  other  Christian  denominations,  when  pop- 
ularity threatens  to  supersede  persecution,  it  is  well 
for  earnest  and  loyal  Christian  Scientists  to  fortify  them- 
selves against  the  mesmerism  of  personal  pride  and  self- 
adulation  by  recalling  the  following  historical  facts: — 

1.  That  ]\Iary  Baker  Eddy  discovered  Christian  Sci- 
ence in  1866,  and  estabUshed  the  Cause  on  a  sound  basis 
by  heahng  the  sick  and  reforming  the  sinner  quickly 
and  completely,  and  doing  this  work  "  without  money  and 
without  price." 

2.  That  in  1875,  after  nine  years  of  arduous  prelimi- 
nary labor,  she  wrote  and  published  the  Christian  Sci- 
ence textbook,  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures;"  that  over  four  hundred  thousand  copies  of 
this  book  have  been  sold  —  an  unparalleled  record  for 
a  work  of  this  description;  that  it  has  healed  multi- 
tudes of   disease    and   has   revealed   God   to   well-nigh 


vi  FOREWORD 

countless  numbers  —  facts  which  prove,  (1)  that  Science 
and  Health  does  not  need  to  be  interpreted  to  those  who 
are  earnestly  seeking  Truth;  (2)  that  it  is  not  possible 
to  state  truth  absolutely  in  a  simpler  or  more  pleasing 
form. 

3.  That  no  one  on  earth  to-day,  aside  from  Mrs. 
Eddy,  knows  anything  about  Christian  Science  except 
as  he  has  learned  it  from  her  and  from  her  writings;  and 
Christian  Scientists  are  honest  only  as  they  give-  her  full 
credit  for  this  extraordinary  work. 

4.  That  Mrs.  Eddy  organized  The  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston,  Mass.,  devised  its  church 
government,  originated  its  form  of  public  worship,  wrote 
its  Church  Manual  and  Tenets,  and  always  has  been 
and  is  now  its  guide,  guardian,  Leader,  and  wise  and 
unerring  counsellor. 

5.  That  Mrs.  Eddy  founded  The  Christian  Science 
Journal  in  1883,  was  its  first  editor  and  for  years  the 
principal  contributor  to  its  columns;  that  she  organized 
The  Christian  Science  PubUshing  Society,  which  in  1898, 
with  its  assets  valued  at  forty-five  thousand  dollars, 
she  made  over  to  trustees  under  agreement  to  pay  all 
future  profits  to  her  church;  that  at  the  same  time  she 
presented  to  her  church  the  property  at  95  and  97 
Falmouth  Street,  then  occupied  by  the  Publishing  So- 
ciety and  valued  at  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  reserv- 
ing for  herself  only  a  place  for  the  publishing  of  her 
works;  that  she  established  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel 
and  authorized  Der  Herold  der  Christian  Science,  both  of 


FOREWORD  vii 

which,  together  with  The  Christian  Science  Journal,  are 
the  property  of  the  Pubhshing  Society. 

Strive  it  ever  so  hard,  The  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
can  never  do  for  its  leader  what  its  Leader  has  done 
for  this  church;  but  its  members  can  so  protect  their 
own  thoughts  that  they  are  not  unwittingly  made  to  de- 
prive their  Leader  of  her  rightful  place  as  the  revelator 
to  this  age  of  the  immortal  truths  testified  to  by  Jesus 
and  the  prophets. 

Deeds,  not  words,  are  the  sound  test  of  love;  and 
the  helpfulness  of  consistent  and  constant  right  think- 
ing— intelligent  thinking  untainted  by  the  emotionalism 
which  is  largely  self-glorification — is  a  reasonable  service 
which  all  Christian  Scientists  can  render  their  Leader. 

—  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  April  28,  1906. 


CONTENTS 

PART  I 
THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

PAGE 

Foreword    *. v 

CHAPTER  I 
"Choose  Ye"  —  Dedicatory  Message,  June  10,  1906.   .   .        3 

CHAPTER  II 

The  Extension  of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scien- 
tist: Its  Inception,  Construction,  and  Dedication 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Message  to  The  Mother  Church,  June  15, 

1902 7 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  The  Mother  Church,  June  18, 

1902  —  Two  Million  Dollars  Pledged 7 

Greeting  from  the  Church  to  Mrs.  Eddy 8 

Our  Leader's  Thanks 9 

Christian  Science  Sentinel,  May  16,  1903 10 

Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  May  16,  1903    .    .  11 

Now  AND  Then 12 

Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  January  2,  1904  .  14 

AMENDltENT   TO    By-LAW 15 

Communion,  1904 15 

Extract  from  the  Treasurer's  Report,  June  14,  1904  .  16 

The  Corner-stone  Laid 16 

Unselfish  Loyalty 19 

Holiday  Gipts 20 


X  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Annual  Meeting,  June  13,  1905: 

Extract  from  the  Clerk's  Report 22 

ebttract  from  the  treasurer's  report 23 

Greeting  to  Mrs.  Eddy  from  the  Annual  Meeting  23 

Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  November  25,  1905  .  24 

Gifts  from  the  Children 25 

Card 25 

Announcement  of  the  Dedication     26 

To  the  Board  of  Directors 26 

Notice 27 

Notice  to  Contributors  to  the  Building  Fund   ....  27 

Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  June  9,  1906     .    .  27 

Communion  Service  and  Dedication *.    .    .    .  29 

The  Annual  Meeting,  June  12,  1906 38 

Telegram  to  Mrs.  Eddy 44 

Report  of  the  Clerk 47 

Letters  and  Editorial 58 

Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  June.  1906  63 


APPENDIX  TO   PART  I 
AS  CHRONICLED  BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS 

An  Astonishing  Motion 65 

Progressive  Steps 65 

The  Finishing  Touches 66 

Description  of  the  Extension 67 

An  Idea  of  the  Size 69 

The  Chibjes     70 

Magnificence  of  the  Organ 70 

Its  Architecture 71 

Unique  Interior 71 

Gates  of  Boston  Open 72 

Christian  Scientists  Have  All  the  Money  Needed    .    .  72 

The  Great  Gathering 73 

Special  Trains  Coming 73 

Interesting  and  Agreeable  Visitors 74 

Readily  Accommodated 76 


CONTENTS  xi 

PAGE 

Big  Church  is  Paid  For 75 

Giant  Temple  for  Scientists 76 

Dedication  Day 77 

Children's  Service 78 

On  a  Far  Higher  Pedestal      79 

The  Wednesday  Evening  Meetings 79 

Exodus  Begins 82 

What  the  Boston  Editors  Said: 

Boston  Daily  Advertiser 83 

Boston  Herald 84 

Boston  Evening  Record 84 

Boston  Post 84 

Boston  Herald " 85 

Boston  Globe 86 

Boston  Post 86 

Boston  Herald 87 

General  Editorial  Opinion: 

Montreal  (Can.)  Gazette 88 

Concord  (N.  H.)  Monitor     .    .    .   _ 88 

Brooklyn  (N.  Y.)  Eagle    .    .    .    .   " 88 

Denver  (Col.)  News 89 

Terre  Haute  (Ind.)  Star 90 

Lafayette  (Ind.)  Journal 91 

Springfield  (Mass.)  Republican 92 

Rochester  (N.  Y.)  Post  Express 92 

Topeka  (Kan.)  Daily  Capital 93 

Albany  (N.  Y.)  Knickerbocker 94 

Mexican  Herald,  City  of  Mexico,  Mex 95 

Sandusky  (Ohio)  Star-Journal 95 

Peoria  (111.)  Journal 96 

Nebraska  State  Journal,  Lincoln,  Neb 97 

Athol  (Mass.)  Transcript 97 

Portland  (Ore.)  Telegram     .    .    , 98 

Portland  (Me.)  Advertiser 98 

Denver  (Col.)  Republican 99 

Bridgeport  (Conn.)  Standard 99 


Xii  CONTENTS 

PART  II 
MISCELLANY 

CHAPTER  I  PAGE 

To  THE  Christian  World 103 

CHAPTER  II 

The  Christian  Science  Textbook 109 

CHAPTER  III 

Personality 

Personal  Contagion 116 

Letter  to  a  Clergyman 118 

CHAPTER  IV 

Messages  to  The  Mother  Church 

CoMMiTNioN,  January  2,  1898 121 

Communion,  June  4,  1899 124 

Address  at  Annual  Meeting,  June  6,  1899 131 

A  Question  Answered 133 

Letter  of  the  Pastor  Emeritus,  June,  1903 133 

A  Letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy 134 

Letter  to  The  Mother  Church 135 

Card 136 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Affidavit 137 

NoTA  Bene 139 

A  Word  to  the  Wise 139 

Abolishing  the  Communion 140 

Communion  Season  is  Abolished 141 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 142 

The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors 142 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Statements 143 


CONTENTS  xiii 

CHAPTER  V 
Chhistian  Science  Hall,  Concord,  N.  H. 

PAGE 

In  Retrospect 145 

Second  Sunday  Service,  December  12,  1897 147 

Address  to  the  Concord  Church,  February,  1899  .    .    .  148 

Message,  April  19,  1899: 

Subject:    "Not  Matter,  but  Spirit" 151 

First  Annual  Meeting,  January  11,  1900 154 

Easter  Message,  1902 155 

Last  Annual  Meeting,  January  6,  1904 156 

CHAPTER  VI 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Concord,  N.  H. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Gift  to  the  Concord  Church 157 

Corner-stone  Laid  at  Concord 158 

Message  on  the  Occasion  of  the  Dedication  of  Mrs. 

Eddy's  Gift,  July  17,  1904 159 

Afn^OUNCEMENT 163 

A  Kindly  Greeting ,   .   .   .   .  163 

Acknowledgment  of  Gifts: 

To  the  Chicago  Churches 164 

To  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  165 

•  To  The  Mother  Church 166 

To  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  London, 

Conn 166 

Thanksgiving  Day,  1904 167 

Reugious  Freedom 167 

CHAPTER  VII 

Pleasant  View  and  Concord,  N.  H. 

Invitation  to  Concord,  July  4,  1897 169 

Visit  to  Concord,  1901 169 

Address  at  Pleasant  View,  June,  1903 170 


xiv  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Visit  to  Concord,  1904   .   .   .   .• 171 

The  Day  in  Concord 171 

Card  of  Thanks 173 

To  First  Congregational  Church 174 

Greetings 175 

To  First  Chtjrch  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Wilmington,  N.  C.  176 

CHAPTER  VIII 
Dedicatory  Messages  to  Branch  Churches 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Chicago,  III.  .  .  . 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  London,  England 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  . 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Detroit,  Mich,  .  . 
First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Toronto,  Canada  . 

White   Mountain  Church 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Duluth,  Minn.   .   . 


First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  186 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Atlanta,  Ga 187 

Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Chicago,  III.  .   .    .  191 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Los  Angeles,  Cal.    .  192 

Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Minneapolis,  Minn.  193 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York,  N.  Y.  .    .  193 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Cleveland,  Ohio  .    .  195 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.     .    .  196 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  St.  Louis,  Mo.    .    .    .  196 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  San  Josfi,  Cal.  .    .    .  197 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Wilmington,  N.  C.    .  197 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  London,  England     .  198 

CHAPTER  IX 

Letters  to  Branch  Churches 

First  Church  of  Chrlst,  Scientist,  Philadelphia,  Pa.     .  199 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Washington,  D.  C.  .  199 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  London,  England     .  200 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York,  N.  Y.      .  201 


177 
183 
183 
183 
184 
184 
186 


COxNTENTS  XV 

PAGE 

Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York,  N.  Y.  .  201 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Oakland,  Cal.    .    .    .  202 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Washington,  D.  C.   .  203 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  London,  England     .  203 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Columbus,  Ohio    .    .  204 

Third  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  London,  England    .  205 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Milwaukee,  Wis.      .  207 

A  Telegram  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 207 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Sydney,  Australia  .  208 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Edinburgh,  Scotland  208 

The  Committees  in  Conference,  Chicago,  111 208 

Comment  on  Letter  from  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scien- 
tist, Ottawa,  Ontario - 209 

CHAPTER  X 
Admonition  and  Counsel 

What  Our  Leader  Says 210 

Ways  th.\t  are  Vain 210 

Only  One  Quotation 213 

The  Laborer  and  his  Hire 214 

The  Children  Contributors 216 

A  Correction      217 

Question  Answered 218 

Christian  Science  Healing 219 

Rules  of  Conduct 223 

A  Word  to  the  Wise 223 

Capitalization 225 

Wherefore? 226 

Significant  Questions      228 

Mental  Digestion 229 

Teaching  in  the  Sunday  School 230 

Charity  an*d  Invalids 231 

Lessons  in  the  Sunday  School 231 

Watching  vermis  Watching  Out 232 

Principle  or  P*er8on? 233 

Christian  Science  and  China 234 

Inconsistency     235 


xvi  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Signs  of  the  Times ^ 235 

NoTA  Bene 236 

Take  Notice 236 

Take  Notice 237 

Take  Notice 237 

Practitioners'  Charges 237 

Take  Notice 237 

CHAPTER  XI 
Questions  Answered 

Questions  and  Answers 238 

The  Higher  Criticism     240 

Class  Teaching 240 

Instruction  by  Mrs.  Eddy 241 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 242 

CHAPTER  XII 
Readers,  Teachers,  Lecturers 

The  New  York  Churches 243 

The  November  Class,  1898 243 

Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College      244 

The  Board  of  Education 246 

To  A  First  Reader 247 

The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Lectureship 248 

Readers  in  Church 249 

Words  for  the  Wise 250 

Afterglow 250 

Teachers  of  Christian  Science 251 

The  General  Assoclation  of  Teachers,  1903 251 

The  London  Teachers'  Association,  1903 252 

The  General  Association  of  Teaceers,  1904 253 

The  Canadian  Teachers,  1904 253 

Students  in  the  Board  of  Education,  December,  1904 .  253 

The  May  Class,  1905 254 

The  December  Class,  1905 254 

"Rotation  in  Office" 254 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 255 


CONTENTS  xvii 

CHAPTER  XIII 
Christmas 

PAGE 

Early  Chimes,  December,  1898 256 

Christmas,  1900 256 

Christmas  Gifts 257 

The  Significance  of  Christmas 259 

Christmas  for  the  Children 261 

What  Christmas  Means  to  Me 261 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Christmas  Message 263 

CHAPTER  XIV 
Contributions  to  Newspapers  and  Magazines 

A  Word  in  Defence 264 

Christian  Science  Thanks      264 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Response 264 

Insufficient  Freedom 266 

Christian  Science  and  the  Times 266 

Heaven      267 

Prevention  and  Cure  of  Divorce 268 

Harvest 269 

Mrs.  Eddy  Describes  her  Human  Ideal 271 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Answer 271 

Youth  and  Young  Manhood 272 

Mrs.  Eddy  Sends  Thanks      274 

Universal  Fellowship 275 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Own  Denial  that  She  is  III 275 

To  Whom  It  May  Concern 276 

Politics 276 

CHAPTER  XV 
Peace  ani>  War 

Other  Ways  than  by  War 277 

How  Strife  may  be  Stilled 278 

The  Prayer  for  Peace 279 


xviii  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

"Hear,  O  Israel:    Thk  Lord  otfR  God  is  one  Lord"  .    .  280 

An  Explanation 280 

Practise  the  Golden  Rule 281 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply      281 

Mrs.  Eddy  and  the  Peace  Movement 282 

Acknowledgment  of  Appointment  as  Fondateur  ....  283 

A  Correction      284 

To  a  Sttoent 285 

War 286 

CHAPTER  XVI 
Tributes 

Monument  to  Baron  and  Baroness  de  Hirsch     ....  287 

Tributes  to  Queen  Victoria 289 

Letter  to  Mrs.  McKinley 290 

Tribute  to  President  McKinley 291 

Power  of  Prayer 292 

On  the  De.*.th  of  Pope  Leo  XIII.,  July  20,  1903     ...  294 

A  Tribute  to  the  Bible 295 

A  Benediction 295 

Hon.  Clarence  A.  Buskirk's  Lecture 296 

"Hear,  O  Israel" 296 

Miss  Clara  Barton 296 

There  is  No  Death     297 

Mrs.  Eddy's  History 297 

CHAPTER  XVII 

Answers  to  Criticisms 

Christlan  Science  and  the  Church 299 

Faith  in  Metaphysics 301 

Reply  to  Mark  Twain 302 

A  Misstatement  Corrected 304 

A  Plea  for  Justice 305 

Reminiscences 306 

Reply  to  McClure's  Magazine 308 

A  Card 316 


CONTENTS  xix 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
Authorship  of  Sciencb  and  Health 

PAGE 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Statement 317 

Letters  from  Students 319 

CHAPTER  XIX 

A  Memorable  Coincidence  and  Historical  Facts 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Letter 326 

Miss  Elizabeth  Earl  Jones'  Letter 327 

Miss  Mary  Hatch  Harrison's  Letter 329 

A  Card 331 

Major  Glover's  Record  as  a  Mason 334 

CHAPTER  XX 

General  Miscellant 

The  United  States  to  Great  Britain  (Poem) 337 

To  the  Public 338 

Fast  Day  in  New  Hampshire,  1899 339 

Spring  Greeting  (Poem)      341 

Mrs.  Eddy  Talks 341 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Successor 346 

Gift  of  a  Loving-cup      347 

Fundamental  Christian  Science      347 

Whither?     (Poem) 350 

A  Letter  from  our  Leader      351 

Take  Notice 351 

Recognition  of  Blessings 352 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 352 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Thanks 352 

Something  in  a  Name 353 

Article  XXII.,  Section  17 353 

To  Whom  It  May  Concern 354 

Extempore  (Poem) 354 


XX  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Men  in  oub  Ranks 355 

A  Fman  op  Praise 355 

A  Statement  by  Mrs.  Eddy 356 

The  Way  of  Wisdom 356 

A  Letter  by  Mrs.  Eddy 357 

Take  Notice 358 

A  Letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy 359 

A  Letter  by  Mrs.  Eddy 360 

A  Letter  by  Mrs.  Eddy 360 

A  Telegram  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 361 

A  Letter  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 362 

To  THE  Members  of  the  Christlan  Scientist  Association  363 


PART   I 

THE   FIRST   CHURCH   OF   CHRIST 
SCIENTIST 


THE   FIKST   CHURCH   OF   CHRIST 
SCIENTIST 

CHAPTER  I 
"CHOOSE    YE" 

Message  from  Mary  Baker  Eddy  on  the  Occasion 
OF  THE  Dedication  of  the  Extension  of  The 
Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  June  10,  1906 

MY  Beloved  Brethren:  —  The  divine  might  of 
Truth  demands  well-doing  in  order  to  demon- 
strate truth,  and  this  not  alone  in  accord  with  human 
desire  but  with  spiritual  power.  St.  John  writes :  "  Blessed 
are  they  that  do  His  commandments,  that  they  may  have 
right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through  the  gates 
into  the  city."  The  sear  leaves  of  faith  without  works, 
scattered  abroad  in  Zion's  waste  places,  appeal  to  re- 
formers, "Show  me  thy  faith  by  thy  works." 

Christian  Science  is  not  a  dweller  apart  in  royal  solitude; 
it  is  not  a  law  of  matter,  nor  a  transcendentalism  that 
heals  only  the  sick.  This  Science  is  a  law  of  divine  Mind, 
a  persuasive  animus,  an  unerring  impetus,  an  ever-present 
help.  Its  presence  is  felt,  for  it  acts  and  acts  wisely, 
always  unfolding  the  highway  of  hope,  faith,  understand- 
ing. It  is  the  higher  criticism,  the  higher  hope;  and  its 
effect  on  man  is  mainly  this  —  that  the  good  which  has 
come  into  his  life,  examination  compels  him  to  think 
genuine,  whoever  did  it.  A  Christian  Scientist  verifies 
his  calling.     Choose  ye! 

3 


4     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

When,  by  losing  his  faith  in  matter  and  sin,  one  finds 
the  spirit  of  Truth,  then  he  practises  the  Golden  Rule 
spontaneously;  and  obedience  to  this  rule  spiritualizes 
man,  for  the  world's  nolens  volens  cannot  enthrall  it. 
Lust,  dishonesty,  sin,  disable  the  student;  they  preclude 
the  practice  or  efficient  teaching  of  Christian  Science,  the 
truth  of  man's  being.  The  Scripture  reads:  "He  that 
taketh  not  his  cross,  and  foUoweth  after  me,  is  not  worthy 
of  me."  On  this  basis,  how  many  are  following  the 
Way-shower?  We  follow  Truth  only  as  we  follow  truly, 
meekly,  patiently,  spiritually,  blessing  saint  and  sinner 
with  the  leaven  of  divine  Love  which  woman  has  put 
into  Christendom  and  medicine. 

A  genuine  Christian  Scientist  loves  Protestant  and 
Catholic,  D.D.  and  M.D.,  —  loves  all  who  love  God, 
good;  and  he  loves  his  enemies.  It  will  be  found  that, 
instead  of  opposing,  such  an  individual  subserves  the 
interests  of  both  medical  faculty  and  Christianity,  and 
they  thrive  together,  learning  that  Mind-power  is  good 
will  towards  men.  Thus  unfolding  the  true  metal  in 
character,  the  iron  in  human  nature  rusts  away;  honesty 
and  justice  characterize  the  seeker  and  finder  of  Christian 
Science. 

The  pride  of  place  or  power  is  the  prince  of  this  world 
that  hath  nothing  in  Christ.  Our  great  Master  said: 
"Except  ye  .  .  .  become  as  little  children,  ye  shall  not 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,"  —  the  reign  of  right- 
eousness, the  glory  of  good,  healing  the  sick  and  saving 
the  sinner.  The  height  of  my  hope  must  remain.  Glory 
be  to  Thee,  Thou  God  most  high  and  nigh. 

Whatever  is  not  divinely  natural  and  demonstrably 
true,  in  ethics,  philosophy,  or  religion,  is  not  of  God  but 


"CHOOSE  YE"  5 

originates  in  the  minds  of  mortals.  It  is  the  Adam- 
dream  according  to  the  Scriptural  allegory,  in  which 
man  is  supposed  to  start  from  dust  and  woman  to  be 
the  outcome  of  man's  rib,  —  marriage  synonymous  with 
legalized  lust,  and  the  oflFspring  of  sense  the  murderers 
of  their  brothers! 

Wholly  apart  from  this  mortal  dream,  this  illusion  and 
delusion  of  sense.  Christian  Science  comes  to  reveal  man 
as  God's  image,  His  idea,  coexistent  with  Him  —  God 
giving  all  and  man  having  all  that  God  gives.  Whence, 
then,  came  the  creation  of  matter,  sin,  and  death,  mortal 
pride  and  power,  prestige  or  privilege?  The  First  Com- 
mandment of  the  Hebrew  Decalogue,  "Thou  shalt  have 
no  other  gods  before  me,"  and  the  Golden  Rule  are  the 
all-in-all  of  Christian  Science.  They  are  the  spiritual 
idealism  and  realism  which,  when  realized,  constitute  a 
Christian  Scientist,  heal  the  sick,  reform  the  sinner,  and 
rob  the  grave  of  its  victory.  The  spiritual  understanding 
which  demonstrates  Christian  Science,  enables  the  devout 
Scientist  to  worship,  not  an  unknown  God,  but  Him  whom, 
understanding  even  in  part,  he  continues  to  love  more  and 
to  serve  better. 

Beloved,  I  am  not  with  you  in  propria  persona  at  this 
memorable  dedication  and  communion  season,  but  I  am 
with  you  "in  spirit  and  in  truth,"  lovingly  thanking  your 
generosity  and  fidelity,  and  saying  virtually  what  the 
prophet  said:  Continue  to  choose  whom  ye  will  serve. 

Forgetting  the  Golden  Rule  and  indulging  sin,  men 
cannot  serve  God;  they  cannot  demonstrate  the  omnipo- 
tence of  divine  Mind  that  heals  the  sick  and  the  sinner. 
Human  will  may  mesmerize  and  mislead  man;  divine 
wisdom,  never.     Indulging  deceit  is  like  the  defendant 


6     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

arguing  for  the  plaintiff  in  favor  of  a  decision  which  the 
defendant  knows  will  be  turned  against  himself. 

We  cannot  serve  two  masters.  Do  we  love  God 
supremely?  Are  we  honest,  just,  faithful?  Are  we  true 
to  ourselves?  "God  is  not  mocked:  for  whatsoever  a 
man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap."  To  abide  in  our 
unselfed  better  self  is  to  be  done  forever  with  the  sins 
of  the  flesh,  the  wrongs  of  human  life,  the  tempter  and 
temptation,  the  smile  and  deceit  of  damnation.  When 
we  have  overcome  sin  in  all  its  forms,  men  may  revile  us 
and  despitefully  use  us,  and  we  shall  rejoice,  "for  great 
is  [our]  reward  in  heaven." 

You  have  dexterously  and  wisely  provided  for  The 
Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  a  magnificent  tem- 
ple wherein  to  enter  and  pray.  Greatly  impressed  and 
encouraged  thereby,  deeply  do  I  thank  you  for  this  proof 
of  your  progress,  unity,  and  love.  The  modest  edifice 
of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  began  with 
the  cross;  its  excelsior  extension  is  the  crown.  The  room 
of  your  Leader  remains  in  the  beginning  of  this  edifice, 
evidencing  the  praise  of  babes  and  the  word  which  pro- 
ceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of  God.  Its  crowning  ulti- 
mate rises  to  a  mental  monument,  a  superstructure  high 
above  the  work  of  men's  hands,  even  the  outcome  of 
their  hearts,  giving  to  the  material  a  spiritual  significance 
—  the  speed,  beauty,  and  achievements  of  goodness. 
Methinks  this  church  is  the  one  edifice  on  earth  which 
most  prefigures  self-abnegation,  hope,  faith ;  love  catching 
a  glimpse  of  glory. 


CHAPTER  II 

THE  EXTENSION  OF  THE  MOTHER  CHURCH  OF 
CHRIST,  SCIENTIST:    ITS  INCEPTION,  CON- 
STRUCTION, AND  DEDICATION 

Mrs.   Eddy's  Message  to  The  Mother  Church, 
June  15,  1902 

[Extract] 

HERE  allow  me  to  interpolate  some  matters  of  busi- 
ness that  ordinarily  find  no  place  in  my  Message. 
It  is  a  privilege  to  acquaint  communicants  with  the 
financial  transactions  of  this  church,  so  far  as  I  know 
them,  and  especially  before  making  another  united  effort 
to  purchase  more  land  and  enlarge  our  church  edifice  so 
as  to  seat  the  large  number  who  annually  favor  us  with 
their  presence  on  Communion  Sunday. 

the  annual  meeting  of  the  mother  church,  JUNE 

18,  1902  —  two  million  dollars  pledged 

Exlward  A.  Kimball,  C.S.D.,  offered  the  following 
motion :  — 

"Recognizing  the  necessity  for  providing  an  auditorium 
for  The  Mother  Church  that  will  seat  four  or  five  thou- 
sand persons,  and  acting  in  behalf  of  ourselves  and  the 
Christian  Scientists  of  the  world,  we  agree  to  contribute 

7 


8     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

any  portion  of  two  million  dollars  that  may  be  necessary 
for  this  purpose." 

In  support  of  the  motion,  Mr.  Kimball  said  in  part: 
"  Our  denomination  is  palpably  outgrowing  the  institu- 
tional end  thereof.     We  need  to  keep  pace  with  our  own 
growth  and  progress.    The  necessity  here  indicated  is  be- 
yond cavil;  beyond  resistance  in  your  thought." 

Judge  William  G.  Ewing,  in  seconding  the  motion,  said : — 

"As  we  have  the  best  church  in  the  world,  and  as  we 
have  the  best  expression  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ, 
let  us  have  the  best  material  symbol  of  both  of  these,  and 
in  the  best  city  in  the  world. 

"  Now  I  am  sure  that  I  have  but  expressed  the  universal 
voice  of  Christian  Scientists,  that  there  should  be  some- 
thing done,  and  done  immediately,  to  make  reasonable 
accommodation  for  the  regular  business  of  the  Christian 
Science  church,  and  I  believe  really,  with  my  faint 
knowledge  of  arithmetic  and  the  relationship  of  figures, 
that  a  church  of  twenty-four  thousand  members  should 
have  a  seating  capacity  of  more  than  nine  hundred,  if 
they  are  all  to  get  in." 

The  motion  was  carried  unanimously. 

Greeting  from  the  Church  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

"Ten  thousand  Christian  Scientists  from  throughout 
the  world,  convened  in  annual  business  meeting  in 
Boston,  send  our  greeting  to  you,  whom  we  recognize 
as  logically  the  natural  and  indispensable  Leader  of  our 
religious  denomination  and  its  activity. 

"Since  the  last  report,  in  1900,  one  hundred  and  five 
new  churches  or  congregations  have  been  added,  and 


OUR  LEADER'S  THANKS  9 

those  previously  established  have  had  large  accessions 
to  their  membership.  In  recognition  of  the  necessity  for 
providing  an  audience-room  in  The  Mother  Church  which 
will  seat  four  or  five  thousand  persons,  we  have  agreed  to 
contribute  any  portion  of  two  million  dollars  that  may 
be  needed  for  that  purpose. 

"The  instinctive  gratitude  which  not  only  impels  the 
Christian  to  turn  in  loving  thankfulness  to  his  heavenly 
Father,  but  induces  him  to  glory  in  every  good  deed  and 
thought  on  the  part  of  every  man  —  this  would  be  scant 
indeed  if  it  did  not  continually  move  us  to  utter  our  grati- 
tude to  you  and  declare  the  depth  of  our  affection  and 
esteem. 

"  To  you,  who  are  standing  in  the  forefront  of  the  effort 
for  righteous  reform,  we  modestly  renew  the  hope  and 
desire  that  we  may  worthily  follow  with  you  in  the  way 
of  salvation  through  Christ." 

Our  Leader's  Thanks 

To  the  Members  of  The  Mother  Church:  —  I  am  bankrupt 
in  thanks  to  you,  my  beloved  brethren,  who  at  our  last 
annual  meeting  pledged  yourselves  with  startling  grace 
to  contribute  any  part  of  two  millions  of  dollars  towards 
the  purchase  of  more  land  for  its  site,  and  to  enlarge 
our  church  edifice  in  Boston.  I  never  before  felt  poor 
in  thanks,  but  I  do  now,  and  will  draw  on  God  for 
the  amount  I  owe  you,  till  I  am  satisfied  with  what  my 
heart  gives  to  balance  accounts. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
July  21,  1902. 


10     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  May  16,  1903] 

It  is  inevitable  that  the  transforming  influence  of 
Christian  Science  should  improve  the  thought,  enlarge  the 
favorable  expectation,  and  augment  the  achievements  of 
its  followers.  It  was  inevitable  that  this  mighty  impulse 
for  good  should  have  externalized  itself,  ten  years  ago, 
in  an  edifice  for  The  Mother  Church.  It  is  inevitable 
that  this  same  impulsion  should  now  manifest  itself  in  a 
beautiful,  ample  building,  embodying  the  best  of  design, 
material,  and  situation. 

Some  money  has  been  paid  in  towards  the  fund,  and 
some  of  the  churches  and  other  organizations  have  taken 
steps  in  this  direction,  but  the  time  is  at  hand,  now,  for 
this  entire  donation  to  be  specifically  subscribed  as  to 
amount  and  date  of  payment.  No  appeal  has  ever  been 
made  in  this  behalf,  and  it  is  probable  that  none  will  be 
made  or  ever  be  needed.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  Cause  of 
Christian  Science  could  prosper,  in  any  particular,  on  the 
basis  of  fretful  or  reluctant  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  its 
people.  Christian  Scientists  are  not  expected  to  contrib- 
ute money  against  their  will  or  as  the  result  of  impor- 
tunity or  entreaty  on  the  part  of  some  one  else. 

They  will  provide  the  money  necessary  to  this  end, 
because  they  recognize  the  importance  of  The  Mother 
Church  to  the  Cause.  They  realize  that  there  must  be 
a  prosperous  parent  church,  in  order  to  insure  the  pros- 
perity of  the  branch  churches;  indeed,  they  know  that 
it  is  the  prosperous  growth  of  this  movement  which 
now  necessitates  this  onward  step.  They  know  that 
their  own  individual  welfare  is  closely  interwoven  with 
the  general  welfare  of  the  Cause. 


EDITORIAL  11 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  as  Christian  Scientists 
we  are  as  yet  but  imperfect  followers  of  the  perfect  Christ, 
and  although  we  may  falter  or  stumble  or  loiter  by  the 
way,  we  know  that  the  Leader  of  this  movement,  Mrs. 
Eddy,  has  been  constantly  at  her  post  during  all  the 
storms  that  have  surged  against  her  for  a  generation. 
She  has  been  the  one  of  all  the  world  who  has  encountered 
the  full  force  of  antagonism.  We  know,  too,  that  during 
these  years  she  has  not  tried  to  guide  us  by  means  of 
forced  marches,  but  has  waited  for  us  to  grow  into  readi- 
ness for  each  step,  and  we  know  that  in  all  this  time  she 
has  never  urged  upon  us  a  step  that  did  not  result  in  our 
welfare. 

A  year  ago  she  quietly  alluded  to  the  need  of  our 
Mother  Church.  She  knew  that  we  were  ready;  the  re- 
sponse was  instant,  spontaneous.  Later  on  she  expressed 
much  gratification  because  of  prompt  and  liberal  action, 
and  it  needs  no  special  insight  to  predict  that  she  will  be 
cheered  and  encouraged  to  know  that,  having  seized  upon 
this  privilege  and  opportunity,  we  have  also  made  good 
the  pledge. 

[Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  May  16,  1903] 

Our  readers  have  been  informed  of  the  purchase  of  the 
land  upon  which  the  new  building  will  be  erected,  and 
that  this  land  has  been  paid  for.  The  location  is,  there- 
fore, determined.  The  size  of  the  building  was  decided 
last  June,  but  there  still  remained  for  definite  decision 
the  amount  to  be  expended  and  the  date  for  commen- 
cing building  operations.  The  pledge  of  the  annual 
meeting  was  "any  portion  of  two  million  dollars  that 


12    THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

may  be  necessary  for  this  pmrpose,"  and  this  of  course 
carried  the  impHcation  that  work  should  be  commenced 
as  soon  as  the.  money  in  hand  justified  the  letting  of 
contracts. 

The  spontaneous  and  liberal  donations  which  enabled 
those  having  the  work  in  charge  to  secure  the  large 
parcel  of  land  adjoining  The  Mother  Church,  gives 
promise  of  the  speedy  accumulation  of  a  sum  suflBcient 
to  justify  the  decision  of  these  remaining  problems. 
Each  person  interested  must  remember,  however,  that 
his  individual  desires,  both  as  t6  the  amount  to  be 
expended  and  the  date  of  commencing  work,  will  be  best 
evidenced  by  the  liberality  and  promptness  of  his  own 
contribution. 

[Mrs.  Eddy  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  May  30,  1903] 
Now  AND  Then 

This  was  an  emphatic  rule  of  St.  Paul :  "  Behold,  now 
is  the  accepted  time."  A  lost  opportunity  is  the  great- 
est of  losses.  Whittier  mourned  it  as  what  "might 
have  been."  We  own  no  past,  no  future,  we  pos- 
sess only  now.  If  the  reliable  now  is  carelessly  lost  in 
speaking  or  in  acting,  it  comes  not  back  again.  What- 
ever needs  to  be  done  which  cannot  be  done  now, 
God  prepares  the  way  for  doing;  while  that  which  can 
be  done  now,  but  is  not,  increases  our  indebtedness  to 
God.  Faith  in  divine  Love  supplies  the  ever-present 
help  and  now,  and  gives  the  power  to  "act  in  the  living 
present." 

The  dear  children's  good  deeds  are  gems  in  the  settings 
of  manhood  and  womanhood.     The  good  they  desire  to 


NOW  AND  THEN  13 

do,  they  insist  upon  doing  now.  They  speculate  neither 
on  the  past,  present,  nor  future,  but,  taking  no  thought 
for  the  morrow,  act  in  God's  time. 

A  book  by  Benjamin  Wills  Newton,  called  "  Thoughts 
on  the  Apocalypse,"  published  in  London,  England,  in 
1853,  was  presented  to  me  in  1903  by  Mr.  Marcus 
Holmes,  K.C.  This  was  the  first  that  I  had  even  heard 
of  it.  When  scanning  its  interesting  pages,  my  atten- 
tion was  arrested  by  the  following:  "The  church  at 
Jerusalem,  like  a  sun  in  the  centre  of  its  system,  had 
other  churches,  like  so  many  planets,  revolving  around  it. 
It  was  strictly  a  mother  and  a  ruling  church."  Accord- 
ing to  his  description,  the  church  of  Jerusalem  seems 
to  prefigure  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
in  Boston. 

I  understand  that  the  members  of  The  IVIother  Church, 
out  of  loving  hearts,  pledged  to  this  church  in  Boston 
any  part  of  two  millions  of  money  with  which  to  build 
an  ample  temple  dedicate  to  God,  to  Him  "  who  forgiveth 
all  thine  iniquities;  who  healeth  all  thy  diseases;  who 
redeemeth  thy  life  from  destruction;  who  crowneth  thee 
with  lovingkindness  and  tender  mercies;  who  satisfieth 
th}^  mouth  with  good  things;  so  that  thy  youth  is  renewed 
like  the  eagle's,"  —  to  build  a  temple  the  spiritual  spire 
of  which  will  reach  the  stars  with  divine  overtures,  holy 
harmony,  reverberating  through  all  cycles  of  systems  and 
spheres. 

Because  Christian  Scientists  virtually  pledged  this 
munificent  sum  not  only  to  my  church  but  to  Him  who 
returns  it  unto  them  after  many  days,  their  loving  giving 
has  been  blessed.  It  has  crystallized  into  a  foundation 
for  our  temple,  and  it  will  continue  to  "prosper  in  the 


14     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

thing  whereto  [God,  Spirit]-'  sent  it."  In  the  now  they 
brought  their  tithes  into  His  storehouse.  Then,  when 
this  bringing  is  consummated,  God  will  pour  them  out  a 
blessing  above  the  song  of  angels,  beyond  the  ken  of 
mortals  —  a  blessing  that  two  millions  of  love  currency 
will  bring  to  be  discerned  in  the  near  future  as  a  gleam 
of  reality;  not  a  madness  and  nothing,  but  a  sanity 
and  something  from  the  individual,  stupendous,  Godlike 
agency  of  man. 

[Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  January  2,  1904] 

A  few  days  ago  we  received  a  letter  from  a  friend  in 
another  city,  saying  that  he  had  just  been  informed  — 
and  his  informant  claimed  to  have  good  authority  for  the 
statement  —  that  the  entire  amount  required  to  complete 
The  IVIother  Church  building  fund  had  been  paid  in; 
consequently  further  payments  or  subscriptions  were  not 
desired. 

Our  friend  very  promptly  and  emphatically  pro- 
nounced the  story  a  fabrication  of  the  evil  one,  and  he 
was  entirely  right  in  doing  so.  If  the  devil  were  really 
an  entity,  endowed  with  genius  and  inspiration,  he  could 
not  have  invented  a  more  subtle  lie  with  which  to  en- 
snare a  generous  and  loyal  people. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  building  fund  is  not  complete, 
but  it  is  in  such  a  healthy  state  that  building  operations 
have  been  commenced,  and  they  will  be  carried  on  without 
interruption  until  the  church  is  finished.  The  rapidity 
with  which  the  work  will  be  pushed  forward  necessitates 
large  payments  of  money,  and  it  is  desirable  that  the  con- 
tributions to  the  building  fund  keep  pace  with  the  dis- 
bursements. 


COMMUNION,   1904  15 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  March  5,  1904] 

Amendment  to  By-law 

Section  3  of  Article  XLI  (XXXIV  in  revised  edition)  of 
the  Church  By-laws  has  been  amended  to  read  as  follows :  — 

The  Mother  Church  Building.  —  Section  3.  The 
edifice  erected  in  1894  for  The  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  in  Boston,  Mass.,  shall  neither  be  demolished 
nor  removed  from  the  site  where  it  was  built,  without  the 
written  consent  of  the  Pastor  Emeritus,  Mary  Baker 
Eddy. 

Communion,  1904 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  My  heart  goes  out  to  you  as 
ever  in  daily  desire  that  the  Giver  of  all  good  transform 
you  into  His  own  image  and  likeness.  Already  I  have 
said  to  you  all  that  you  are  able  to  bear  now,  and  thanking 
you  for  your  gracious  reception  of  it  I  close  with  Kate 
Hankey's  excellent  hymn,  — 

I  love  to  tell  the  story. 

Of  unseen  things  above, 
Of  Jesus  and  his  glory, 

Of  Jesus  and  his  love. 
I  love  to  tell  the  story, 

Because  1  know  'tis  true; 
It  satisfies  my  longings, 

As  nothing  else  can  do. 

I  love  to  tell  the  story; 

For  those  who  know  it  best 
Seem  hungering  and  thirsting 

To  hear  it  like  the  rest. 
And  when,  in  scenes  of  glory, 

I  sing  the  NEW,  NEW  SONG, 
'Twill  be  the  OLD,  OLD  STORY 

That  I  have  loved  so  long. 


16     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  TREASURER'S  REPORT,  JUNE  14,  1904 

The  rep>ort  of  Mr.  Stephen  A.  Chase,  treasurer  of  the 
building  fund  of  The  Mother  Church,  made  to  the 
annual  meeting,  showed  that  a  total  of  $425,893.66  had 
been  received  up  to  and  including  May  31,  1904,  and  that 
there  was  a  balance  of  $226,285.73  on  hand  on  that  date, 
after  paying  out  the  sum  of  $199,607.93,  which  included 
the  purchase  price  of  the  land  for  the  site  of  the  new 
building. 


THE  CORNER-STONE   LAH) 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  auditorium  for  The  Mother 
Church  in  Boston  was  laid  Saturday,  July  16,  1904,  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  forenoon.  In  addition  to  the  members 
of  the  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors,  who  have 
the  work  directly  in  charge,  there  were  present  on  this 
occasion:  Mr.  Alfred  Farlow,  President  of  The  Mother 
Church;  Prof.  Hermann  S.  Hering,  First  Reader;  Mrs. 
Ella  E.  Williams,  Second  Reader;  Mr.  Charles  Brigham 
and  Mr.  E.  Noyes  Whitcomb,  respectively  the  architect 
and  the  builder  of  the  new  edifice. 

The  order  of  the  services,  which  were  conducted  by  the 
First  Reader,  was  as  follows :  — 

Scripture  reading,  Isaiah  28  :  16,  17, — 

"Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Behold,  I  lay  in 
Zion  for  a  foundation  a  stone,  a  tried  stone,  a  precious 
corner  stone,  a  sure  foundation:  he  that  believeth  shall 
not  make  haste. 

"Judgment  also  will  I  lay  to  the  line,  and  righteous- 
ness to  the  plummet:  and  the  hail  shall  sweep  away  the 


THE   CORNER-STONE  LAID  17 

refuge  of  lies,  and  the  waters  shall  overflow  the  hiding 
place." 

Also,  1  Peter  2:1-6,— 

"Wherefore  laying  aside  all  malice,  and  all  guile,  and 
hypocrisies,  and  envies,  and  all  evil  speakings, 

"  As  newborn  babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word, 
that  ye  may  grow  thereby: 

"  If  so  be  ye  have  tasted  that  the  Lord  is  gracious. 

"To  whom  coming,  as  unto  a  living  stone,  disallowed 
indeed  of  men,  but  chosen  of  God,  and  precious, 

"  Ye  also,  as  lively  stones,  are  built  up  a  spiritual  house, 
an  holy  priesthood,  to  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices,  accept- 
able to  God  by  Jesus  Christ. 

"Wherefore  also  it  is  contained  in  the  scripture. 
Behold,  I  lay  in  Sion  a  chief  corner  stone,  elect,  precious: 
and  he  that  believeth  on  him  shall  not  be  confounded." 

The  reading  of  selections  from  "Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures"  by  ]Mary  Baker  Eddy,  — 

Page  241,  lines  13-30 
"    136,     "       1-5,9-14 
"    137,     "     16-5 
"    583,    "     12-19 
"     35,     "     20-25 

This  was  followed  by  a  few  moments  of  silent  prayer 
and  the  audible  repetition  of  the  Lord's  Prayer  with  its 
spiritual  interpretation,  as  given  in  the  Christian  Science 
textbook,  after  which  the  following  extracts  from  Mrs. 
Eddy's  writings  were  read :  — 

"Hitherto,  I  have  observed  that  in  proportion  as  this 
church  has  smiled  on  His  'little  ones,'  He  has  blessed 
her.     Throughout  my  entire  connection  with  The  Mother 


18     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

Church,  I  have  seen,  that  in  the  ratio  of  her  love  for 
others,  hath  His  love  been  bestowed  upon  her;  water- 
ing her  waste  places,  and  enlarging  her  borders. 

"One  thing  I  have  greatly  desired,  and  again  earnestly 
request,  namely,  that  Christian  Scientists,  here  and  else- 
where, pray  daily  for  themselves;  not  verbally,  nor  on 
bended  knee,  but  mentally,  meekly,  and  importunately. 
When  a  hungry  heart  petitions  the  divine  Father-Mother 
God  for  bread,  it  is  not  given  a  stone,  —  but  more  grace, 
obedience,  and  love.  If  this  heart,  humble  and  trustful, 
faithfully  asks  divine  Love  to  feed  it  with  the  bread  of 
heaven,  health,  holiness,  it  will  be  conformed  to  a  fitness 
to  receive  the  answer  to  its  desire;  then  will  flow  into  it 
the  'river  of  His  pleasure,'  the  tributary  of  divine  Love, 
and  great  growth  in  Christian  Science  will  follow,  —  even 
that  joy  which  finds  one's  own  in  another's  good."  (Mis- 
cellaneous Writings,  p.  127.) 

"Beloved  brethren,  the  love  of  our  loving  Lord  was 
never  more  manifest  than  in  its  stern  condemnation  of  all 
error,  wherever  found.  I  counsel  thee,  rebuke  and  exhort 
one  another.  Love  all  Christian  churches  for  the  gospel's 
sake;  and  be  exceedingly  glad  that  the  churches  are  united 
in  purpose,  if  not  in  method,  to  close  the  war  between 
flesh  and  Spirit,  and  to  fight  the  good  fight  till  God's  will 
be  witnessed  and  done  on  earth  as  in  heaven."  (Christian 
Science  versus  Pantheism,  p.  19.) 

The  corner-stone  was  then  laid  by  the  members  of  the 
Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors.  It  contained  the 
following  articles:  The  Holy  Bible;  "Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures"  and  all  other  pubUshed 
writings  of  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  Discoverer 


UNSELFISH  LOYALTY  19 

and  Founder  of  Christian  Science;  Christian  Science 
Hymnal;  "  The  Mother  Church; "  the  current  numbers  of 
The  Christian  Science  Journal,  Christian  Science  Sentinel, 
Der  Her  old  der  Christian  Science,  and  the  Christian  Science 
Quarterly. 

The  ceremony  concluded  with  the  repetition  of  "the 
scientific  statement  of  being,"  from  Science  and  Health 
(p.  468),  and  the  benediction,  2  Corinthians  13  :  14: 
"The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love  of 
God,  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  you 
all.    Amen." 

Unselfish  Loyalty 

To  one  of  the  many  branch  churches  which  contributed 
their  local  church  building  funds  to  The  Mother  Church 
building  fund,  Mrs.  Eddy  wrote  as  follows :  — 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Colorado  Springs,  Col. 

Beloved  Brethren :  —  It  is  conceded  that  our  shadows 
follow  us  in  the  sunlight  wherever  we  go;  but  I  ask  for 
more,  even  this:  That  this  dear  church  shall  be  pursued 
by  her  substance,  the  immortal  fruition  of  her  unselfed 
love,  and  that  her  charity,  which  "seeketh  not  her 
own  "  but  another's  good,  shall  reap  richly  the  reward  of 
goodness. 

Those  words  of  our  holy  Way-shower,  vibrant  through 
time  and  eternity  with  acknowledgment  of  exemplary 
giving,  no  doubt  fill  the  memory  and  swell  the  hearts  of 
the  members  of  The  IVIother  Church,  because  of  that  gift 
which  you  so  sacredly  bestowed  towards  its  church  build- 
ing fund.  These  are  applicable  words:  "Verily  I  say 
unto  you,   Wheresoever  this  gospel  shall    be  preached 


20     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

throughout  the  whole  world,'  this  also  that  she  hath  done 
shall  be  spoken  of  for  a  memorial  of  her. "  (Mark  14  : 9.) 
Gratefully  yours  in  Christ, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
September  1,  1904. 

Holiday  Gifts 

Beloved  Students:  —  The  holidays  are  coming,  and  I 
trow  you  are  awaiting  on  behalf  of  your  Leader  the 
loving  liberty  of  their  license.  May  I  relieve  you  of 
selecting,  and  name  your  gifts  to  her,  in  advance? 
Send  her  only  what  God  gives  to  His  church.  Bring 
all  your  tithes  into  His  storehouse,  and  what  you  would 
expend  for  presents  to  her,  please  add  to  your  givings 
to  The  Mother  Church  building  fund,  and  let  this 
suffice  for  her  rich  portion  in  due  season.  Send  no  gifts 
to  her  the  ensuing  season,  but  the  evidences  of  glorious 
growth  in  Christian  Science. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
October  31,  1904. 

A   WORD    FROM   THE    DIRECTORS,    MAY,    1905 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  a  general  attendance  of  the 
members  of  The  Mother  Church  at  the  communion 
and  annual  meeting  in  Boston  entails  the  expenditure 
of  a  large  amount  of  money,  and  the  further  fact  that 
it  is  important  that  the  building  fund  of  The  Mother 
Church  should  be  completed  as  early  as  possible,  it  has 
been  decided  to  omit  this  year  the  usual  large  gathering 
in  Boston,  and  to  ask  the  members   to   contribute  to 


A  WORD  FROM  THE  DIRECTORS  21 

the  building  fund  the  amount  which  they  would  have 
expended  in  such  an  event. 

We  all  know  of  the  loving  self-sacrifices  which  have  been 
made  by  many  of  the  branch  churches  in  transferring  to 
this  fund  the  money  which  had  been  collected  for  the 
purpose  of  building  church  homes  of  their  own,  and  it  will 
thus  be  seen  that  the  course  suggested  will  not  only 
hasten  the  completion  of  The  Mother  Church,  but  will 
also  advance  the  erection  of  many  branch  churches. 
We  therefore  feel  syre  that  all  Christian  Scientists  will 
gladly  forego  a  visit  to  Boston  at  this  time,  in  order  to 
contribute  more  liberally  to  the  building  fund  and  thereby 
aid  the  progress  of  our  Cause  throughout  the  world. 

Christian  Scientists  have  learned  from  experience  that 
divine  Love  more  than  compensates  for  every  seeming 
trial  and  deprivation  in  our  loyalty  to  Truth,  and  it  is 
but  right  to  expect  that  those  who  are  willing  to  forego 
their  anticipated  visit  this  year  will  receive  a  greater 
blessing  —  "  good  measure,  pressed  down,  and  shaken 
together,  and  running  over."  The  local  members,  who 
have  always  experienced  much  pleasure  in  welcoming 
their  brethren  from  far  and  near,  and  who  have  antici- 
pated much  joy  in  meeting  very  many  of  them  this  year, 
will  feel  that  they  have  been  called  upon  to  make  no  less 
sacrifice  than  have  others;  but  we  are  confident  that 
they  too  will  be  blessed,  and  that  all  will  rejoice  in  the 
glad  reunion  upon  the  completion  of  the  new  edifice  in 
Boston. 

Ira  0.  Knapp,  Joseph   Armstrong, 

William  B.  Johnson,     Stephen  A.  Chase, 
Archibald  McLellan, 
The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors. 


22     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

THE    ANNUAL   MEETING,    JUNE    13,    1905 

Extract  from  the  Clerk's  Report 
In  the  year  1902  our  Leader  saw  the  need  of  a  larger 
edifice  for  the  home  of  The  Mother  Church,  one  that 
would  accommodate  the  constantly  increasing  attendance 
at  all  the  services,  and  the  large  gatherings  at  the  annual 
meeting;  and,  at  the  annual  meeting  in  June,  1902,  a 
sum  of  money  adequate  to  erect  such  a  building  was 
pledged.  Christian  Scientists  have  contributed  already 
for  this  grand  and  noble  purpose,  but  let  us  not  be  uncon- 
sciously blind  to  the  further  needs  of  the  building  fund, 
in  order  to  complete  this  great  work,  nor  wait  to  be  urged 
or  to  be  shown  the  absolute  necessity  of  giving. 

Since  1866,  almost  forty  years  ago,  —  almost  forty 
years  in  the  wilderness, — our  beloved  Leader  and  teacher, 
Mrs.  Eddy,  the  Founder  of  Christian  Science,  has  labored 
for  the  regeneration  of  mankind;  and  time  has  put  its 
seal  of  affirmation  upon  every  purpose  she  has  set  in 
motion,  and  the  justification  of  her  labors  is  the  fruit. 
In  these  years  of  work  she  has  shown  wisdom,  faith,  and 
a  spiritual  discernment  of  the  needs  of  the  present  and  of 
the  future  that  is  nothing  less  than  God-bestowed. 

In  years  to  come  the  moral  and  the  physical  effects 
produced  by  The  Mother  Church,  and  by  the  advanced 
position  taken  by  our  Pastor  Emeritus  and  Leader,  will 
appear  in  their  proper  perspective.  Is  it  not  therefore 
the  duty  of  all  who  have  touched  the  healing  hem  of 
Christian  Science,  to  get  immediately  into  the  proper 
perspective  of  the  meaning  of  the  erection  of  the  new 
edifice  of  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in 
Boston? 


THE   ANNUAL  MEETING,  1905  23 

It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  delay  our  contributions  in 
order  to  find  out  how  much  our  neighbor  has  given,  or  to 
compute  by  the  total  membership  of  The  jNIother  Church 
what  amount  each  shall  send  the  Treasurer.  The  di\dne 
Love  that  prompted  the  desire,  and  supplied  the  means  to 
consummate  the  erection  of  the  present  edifice  in  1894,  is 
still  with  us,  and  will  bless  us  so  long  as  we  follow  His 
commands. 

Extract  from  the  Treasurer's  Report 

Building  Fund:  —  Amount  on  hand  June  1,  1905, 
§303,189.41;  expenditures  June  1,  1904  to  May  31,  1905, 
$388,663.15;  total  receipts  June  19,  1902  to  June  1, 
1905,  S891, 460.49. 

Amount  necessary  to  complete  the  sum  of  $2,000,000 
pledged  at  the  annual  meeting,  1902,  $1,108,539.51. 

Greeting  to  Mrs.  Eddy  from  the  Annual  Meeting 

Beloved  Teacher  and  Leader:  —  The  members  of  your 
church,  The  ^Mother  Church,  The  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  in  Boston,  Mass.,  in  annual  business  meeting 
assembled,  send  their  loyal  and  loving  greetings  to  you, 
the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science  and 
author  of  its  textbook. 

We  rejoice  greatly  that  the  walls  of  our  new  edifice  are 
rising,  not  only  to  faith  but  also  to  sight;  that  this  temple, 
which  represents  the  worship  of  Spirit,  with  its  inseparable 
accompaniment,  the  Christ-healing,  is  being  built  in  our 
day;  and  that  we  have  the  privilege  of  participating 
in  the  work  of  its  erection.  As  the  stately  structure 
grows,  and  stone  is  laid  upon  stone,  those  who  pass  by  are 


24     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

impelled  to  ask,  What  means  this  edifice?  and  they  learn 
that  the  truth  which  Christ  Jesus  revealed  —  the  truth 
which  makes  free  —  is  to-day  being  proven  and  is  ready 
to  heal  all  who  accept  its  divine  ministry.  We  congratu- 
late you  that  the  building  is  to  express  in  its  ample  audi- 
torium something  of  the  vastness  of  the  truth  it  represents, 
and  also  to  symbolize  your  unmeasured  love  for  humanity, 
which  inspires  you  to  welcome  all  mankind  to  the  privi- 
leges of  this  healing  and  saving  gospel.  As  the  walls  are 
builded  by  the  prayers  and  offerings  of  the  thousands 
who  have  been  healed  through  Christian  Science,  we  know 
that  you  rejoice  in  the  unity  of  thought  and  purpose 
which  is  thus  expressed,  showing  that  The  Mother  Church 
"fitly  framed  together  groweth  unto  an  holy  temple  in  the 
Lord.'' 

[Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  November  25,  1905] 

We  are  prompted  to  state,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
have  inquired  about  the  progress  of  the  work  on  the 
extension  to  The  Mother  Church,  that  the  erection  of  the 
building  is  proceeding  rapidly;  in  fact,  it  is  being  pushed 
with  the  utmost  energy,  and  at  the  present  time  there 
are  no  less  than  fifteen  different  trades  represented.  The 
beauty  of  the  building,  and  the  substantial  and  enduring 
character  of  its  construction,  have  been  remarked  by  the 
many  visitors  who  have  recently  inspected  the  work,  and 
they  have  gone  away  with  the  conviction  that  the  structure 
is  worthy  of  our  Cause  and  that  it  will  meet  the  needs  of 
The  Mother  Church  as  well  as  this  can  be  done  by  a 
building  with  a  seating  capacity  of  five  thousand. 

It  therefore  occurs  to  us  that  there  could  be  no  more 
appropriate  time  for  completing  the  building  fund  than 


CARD  25 

the  present  Thanksgiving  season;  and  it  is  suggested  to  our 
readers  that  there  would  be  great  propriety  in  making  a 
special  effort  during  the  coming  week  to  dispose  fully  and 
finally  of  this  feature  of  the  demonstration. 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  March  17,  1906] 
GIFTS    FROM   THE    CHILDREN 

The  great  interest  exhibited  by  the  children  who  attend 
the  Sunday  School  of  The  Mother  Church  is  shown  by 
their  contributions  to  the  building  fund.  The  following 
figures  are  taken  from  the  report  of  the  secretary  of  the 
Sunday  School  and  are  most  gratifying: 

March  1,  1903  to  February  29,  1904,  $621.10;  March  1, 
1904  to  February  28,  1905,  $845.96;  March  1,  1905  to 
February  28,  1906,  $1,112.13;  total,  $2,579.19. 

Card 

Will  one  and  all  of  my  dear  correspondents  accept  this, 
my  answer  to  their  fervid  question:  Owing  to  the  time 
consumed  in  travel,  et  cetera,  I  cannot  be  present  in 
propria  persona  at  our  annual  communion  and  the  dedi- 
cation in  June  next  of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist.  But  I  shall  be  with  my  blessed  church  "in 
spirit  and  in  truth." 

I  have  faith  in  the  givers  and  in  the  builders  of  this 
church  edifice,  —  admiration  for  and  faith  in  the  grandeur 
and  sublimity  of  this  superb  superstructure,  wherein  all 
vanity  of  victory  disappears  and  the  glory  of  divinity 
appears  in  all  its  promise, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
April  8,  1906. 


26     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  April  14,  1906] 
ANNOUNCEMENT    OF    THE    DEDICATION 

The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors  takes  pleasure 
in  announcing  that  the  extension  of  The  Mother  Church 
will  be  dedicated  on  the  date  of  the  annual  communion, 
Sunday,  June  10,  1906. 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  April  28,  1906] 

To  THE  Board  of  Directors 

My  Beloved  Students:  —  Your  generous  check  of  five 
thousand  dollars,  April  23,  1906,  is  duly  received.  You 
can  imagine  my  gratitude  and  emotion  at  the  touch  of 
memory.  Your  beneficent  gift  is  the  largest  sum  of  money 
that  I  have  ever  received  from  my  church,  and  quite 
unexpected  at  this  juncture,  but  not  the  less  appreciated. 
My  Message  for  June  10  is  ready  for  you.  It  is  too 
short  to  be  printed  in  book  form,  for  I  thought  it  better 
to  be  brief  on  this  rare  occasion.  This  communion  and 
dedication  include  enough  of  their  own. 

The  enclosed  notice  I  submit  to  you,  and  trust  that  you 
will  see,  as  I  foresee,  the  need  of  it.  Now  is  the  time  to 
throttle  the  lie  that  students  worship  me  or  that  I  claim 
their  homage.  This  historical  dedication  should  date 
some  special  reform,  and  this  notice  is  requisite  to  give 
the  true  animus  of  our  church  and  denomination. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
April  23,  1906. 


EDITORIAL  27 

Notice 

To  the  Beloved  Members  of  my  Church,  The  Mother  Church, 
The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston:  —  Divine 
Love  bids  me  say :  Assemble  not  at  the  residence  of  your 
Pastor  Emeritus  at  or  about  the  time  of  our  annual 
meeting  and  communion  service,  for  the  divine  and  not 
the  human  should  engage  our  attention  at  this  sacred 
season  of  prayer  and  praise. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


NOTICE  TO  CONTRIBUTORS  TO  THE  BUILDING  FUND 

The  contributors  to  the  building  fund  for  the  extension 
of  The  Mother  Church,  The  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  in  Boston,  Mass.,  are  hereby  notified  that 
sufficient  funds  have  been  received  for  the  completion  of 
the  church  building,  and  the  friends  are  requested  to  send 
no  more  money  to  this  fund. 

Stephen  A.  Chase, 

Treasurer  of  the  Building  Fund. 

Boston,  Mass.,  June  2,  1906. 


[Editorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  June  9,  1906] 

Christian  Scientists  will  read  with  much  joy  and 
thanksgiving  the  announcement  made  by  Mr.  Chase  in 
this  issue  of  the  Sentinel  that  sufficient  funds  have  been 
received  by  him,  as  treasurer  of  the  building  fund,  to 
pay  all  bills  in  connection  with  the  extension  of  The 
Mother  Church,  and  to  most  of  them  the  fact  that  he 


28     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

has  been  able  to  make  this  announcement  coincident 
with  the  completion  of  the  building  will  be  deeply 
significant.  Our  Leader  has  said  in  Science  and  Health 
(p.  494),  "Divine  Love  always  has  met  and  always 
will  meet  every  human  need,"  and  this  has  been  proved 
true  in  the  experience  of  many  who  have  contributed 
to  the  building  fund. 

The  treasurer's  books  will  show  the  dollars  and  cents 
received  by  him,  but  they  can  give  no  more  than  a  hint  of 
the  unselfish  efforts,  and  in  many  instances  the  loving 
self-sacrifice,  of  those  who  have  given  so  generously  to  the 
building  of  this  church.  Suffice  it  to  say,  however,  that 
the  giving  to  this  fund  has  stimulated  those  gentle 
qualities  which  mark  the  true  Christian,  and  its  influence 
upon  the  lives  of  thousands  has  been  of  immense  value  to 
them. 

The  significance  of  this  building  is  not  to  be  found  in 
the  material  structure,  but  in  the  lives  of  those  who,  under 
the  consecrated  leadership  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  and  following 
her  example,  are  doing  the  works  which  Jesus  said  should 
mark  the  lives  of  his  followers.  It  stands  as  the  visible 
symbol  of  a  religion  which  heals  the  sick  and  reforms 
the  sinful  as  our  Master  healed  and  reformed  them.  It 
proclaims  to  the  world  that  Jesus'  gosp>el  was  for  all  time 
and  for  all  men;  that  it  is  as  effective  to-day  as  it  was 
when  he  preached  the  Word  of  God  to  the  multitudes  of 
Judea  and  healed  them  of  their  diseases  and  their  sins. 
It  sjjeaks  for  the  successful  labors  of  one  divinely  guided 
woman,  who  has  brought  to  the  world  the  spiritual  under- 
standing of  the  Scriptures,  and  whose  ministry  has  revealed 
the  one  true  Science  and  changed  the  whole  aspect  of 
medicine  and  theology. 


COMMUNION  SERVICE  AND  DEDICATION    29 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  June  16,  1906.     Reprinted  from 
Boston  Herald] 

COMMUNION  SERVICE  AND  DEDICATION 

Plve  thousand  people  kneeling  in  silent  communion; 
a  stillness  profound;  and  then,  rising  in  unison  from  the 
vast  congregation,  the  words  of  the  Lord's  Prayer!  Such 
was  the  closing  incident  of  the  dedicatory  services  of  the 
extension  of  The  Mother  Church,  The  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  at  the  corner  of  Falmouth  and  Norway 
Streets,  yesterday  morning.  And  such  was  the  scene 
repeated  six  times  during  the  day. 

It  was  a  sight  which  no  one  who  saw  it  will  ever  be  able 
to  forget.  Many  more  gorgeous  church  pageantries  have 
been  seen  in  this  country  and  in  an  older  civilization; 
there  have  been  church  ceremonies  that  appealed  more 
to  the  eye,  but  the  impressiveness  of  this  lay  in  its  very 
simplicity;  its  grandeur  sprang  from  the  complete 
unanimity  of  thought  and  of  purpose.  There  was  some- 
thing emanating  from  the  thousands  who  worshipped 
under  the  dome  of  the  great  edifice  whose  formal  open- 
ing they  had  gathered  to  observe,  that  appealed  to  and 
fired  the  imagination.  A  comparatively  new  religion 
launching  upon  a  new  era,  assuming  an  altogether  differ- 
ent status  before  the  world! 

Even  the  sun  smiled  kindly  upon  the  dedication  of  the 
extension  of  The  Mother  Church.  With  a  cooling  breeze 
to  temper  the  heat,  the  thousands  who  began  to  congregate 
about  the  church  as  early  as  half  past  five  in  the  morning 
were  able  to  wait  patiently  for  the  opening  of  the  doors 
without  suffering  the  inconveniences  of  an  oppressive  day. 
From  that  time,  until  the  close  of  the  evening  service, 


30     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

Falmouth  and  Norway  Streets  held  large  crowds  of  people, 
either  coming  from  a  service  or  awaiting  admission  to 
one.  As  all  the  services  were  precisely  the  same  in  every 
respect,  nobody  attended  more  than  one,  so  that  there 
were  well  over  thirty  thousand  people  who  witnessed 
the  opening.  Not  only  did  these  include  Scientists  from 
all  over  the  world,  and  nearly  all  the  local  Scientists, 
but  many  hundreds  of  other  faiths,  drawn  to  the  church 
from  curiosity,  and  from  sympathy,  too. 

It  spoke  much  for  the  devotion  of  the  members  to  their 
faith,  the  character  of  the  attendance.  In  those  huge 
congregations  were  business  men  come  from  far  distant 
points  at  personal  sacrifices  of  no  mean  order;  profes- 
sional men,  devoted  women  members,  visitors  from 
Australia,  from  India,  from  England,  from  Germany, 
from  Switzerland,  from  South  Africa,  from  Hawaii,  from 
the  coast  States. 

They  gave  generously  of  their  means  in  gratitude  for  the 
epoch-making  event.  The  six  collections  were  large,  and 
when  the  plates  were  returned  after  having  been  through 
the  congregations,  they  were  heaped  high  with  bills,  with 
silver,  and  with  gold.  Some  of  these  contributions  were 
one-hundred-dollar  bills.  Without  ostentation  and  quite 
voluntarily  the  Scientists  gave  a  sum  surpassing  some  of 
the  record  collections  secured  by  evangelists  for  the  work 
of  Christianity. 

Though  the  church  was  filled  for  the  service  at  half 
past  seven,  and  hundreds  had  to  be  turned  away,  by  far 
the  largest  crowd  of  the  day  applied  for  admission  at  the 
ten  o'clock  service,  and  it  was  representative  of  the  entire 
body  of  the  Christian  Science  church. 

Before  half  past  seven  the  chimes  of  the  new  church 


COMMUNION  SERVICE  AND  DEDICATION    31 

began  to  play,  first  the  "Communion  Hymn,"  succeeded 
by  the  following  hymns  throughout  the  day:  "The 
morning  light  is  breaking;"  "Shepherd,  show  me  how 
to  go;"  "Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea;"  "I  need 
Thee  every  hour;"  "Blest  Christmas  morn;"  "Abide 
with  me;"  "Day  by  day  the  manna  fell;"  "Oh,  the 
clanging  bells  of  time;"  "Still,  still  with  Thee;"  "O'er 
waiting  harpstrings  of  the  mind;"  Doxology. 

Promptly  at  half  past  six  the  numerous  doors  of  the 
church  were  thrown  open  and  the  public  had  its  first 
glimpse  of  the  great  structure,  the  cost  of  which  approxi- 
mates two  millions  of  dollars,  contributed  from  over  the 
entire  world.  The  first  impression  was  of  vastness,  then 
of  light  and  cheerfulness,  and  when  the  vanguard  of  the 
thousands  had  been  seated,  expressions  of  surprise  and  of 
admiration  were  heard  on  every  hand  for  the  beauty  and 
the  grace  of  the  architecture.  The  new  home  for  worship 
that  was  opened  by  the  Scientists  in  Boston  yesterday 
can  take  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of  the  world's  houses 
of  worship,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  first  sight  which 
the  visitors  caught  of  its  interior  should  have  impressed 
them  as  one  of  the  events  of  their  lives. 

First  Reader  William  D.  ]McCrackan,  accompanied  by 
the  Second  Reader,  Mrs.  Laura  Carey  Conant,  and  the 
soloist  for  the  services,  Mrs.  Hunt,  was  on  the  Readers' 
platform.  Stepping  to  the  front  of  the  platform,  when 
the  congregation  had  taken  their  seats,  the  First  Reader 
announced  simply  that  they  would  sing  Hymn  161, 
WTitten  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  as  the  opening  of  the  dedicatory 
service.  And  what  singing  it  was!  As  though  trained 
carefully  under  one  leader,  the  great  body  of  Scientists 
joined  in  the  song  of  praise. 


32     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

Spontaneous  unanimity  and  repetition  in  unison  were 
two  of  the  most  striking  features  of  the  services.  When, 
after  five  minutes  of  silent  communion  at  the  end  of  the 
service,  the  congregation  began  to  repeat  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  they  began  all  together,  and  their  voices  rose  as 
one  in  a  heartfelt  appeal  to  the  creator. 

So  good  are  the  acoustic  properties  of  the  new  structure 
that  Mr.  McCrackan  and  Mrs.  Conant  could  be  heard 
perfectly  in  every  part  of  it,  and  they  did  not  have  to  lift 
their  voices  above  the  usual  platform  tone. 

Following  the  organ  voluntary  —  Fantasie  in  E  minor, 
Merkel  —  the  order  of  service  was  as  follows:  — 

Hymn  161,  from  the  Hymnal.  Words  by  the  Rev. 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Reading  from  the  Scriptures:  Deuteronomy  26  :  1,  2, 
5-10  (first  sentence). 

Silent  prayer,  followed  by  the  audible  repetition  of  the 
Lord's  Prayer  with  its  spiritual  interpretation  as  given  in 
the  Christian  Science  textbook. 

Hymn  166,  from  the  Hymnal. 

Reading  of  notices. 

Reading  of  Tenets  of  The  Mother  Church. 

Collection. 

Solo,  "Communion  Hymn,"  words  by  the  Rev.  Mary 
Baker  Eddy,  music  by  William  Lyman  Johnson. 

Reading  of  annual  Message  from  the  Pastor  Emeritus, 
the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Reading  the  specially  prepared  Lesson-Sermon. 

After  the  reading  of  the  Lesson-Sermon,  silent  com- 
munion, which  concluded  with  the  audible  repetition  of 
the  Lord's  Prayer. 


COMMUNION  SERVICE  AND  DEDICATION    33 

Singing  the  Communion  Doxology. 

Reading  of  a  despatch  from  the  members  of  the  church 
to  Mrs.  Eddy. 

Reading  of  "  the  scientific  statement  of  being  "  (Sci- 
ence and  Health,  p.  468),  and  the  correlative  Scripture, 
1  John  3  :  1-3. 

The  benediction. 

The  subject  of  the  special  Lesson-Sermon  was  "  Adam, 
Where  Art  Thou?"  the  Golden  Text:  "Search  me,  O 
God,  and  know  my  heart:  try  me,  and  know  my 
thoughts:  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me, 
and  lead  me  in  the  way  everiasting."  (Psalms  139  :  23, 
24.)  The  responsive  reading  was  from  Psalms  15  :  1-5; 
24  :  1-6,  9,  10. 

1  Lord,  who  shall  abide  in  thy  tabernacle?  who  shall 
dwell  in  thy  holy  hill? 

2  He  that  walketh  uprightly,  and  worketh  righteous- 
ness, and  speaketh  the  truth  in  his  heart. 

3  He  that  backbiteth  not  with  his  tongue,  nor  doeth 
evil  to  his  neighbor,  nor  taketh  up  a  reproach  against  his 
neighbor. 

4  In  whose  eyes  a  vile  person  is  contemned;  but  he 
honoreth  them  that  fear  the  Lord.  He  that  sweareth  to 
his  own  hurt,  and  changeth  not. 

5  He  that  putteth  not  out  his  money  to  usury,  nor 
taketh  reward  against  the  innocent.  He  that  doeth  these 
things  shall  never  be  moved. 

1  The  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  fulness  thereof; 
the  world,  and  they  that  dwell  therein. 

2  For  he  hath  founded  it  upon  the  seas,  and  established 
it  upon  the  floods. 


34     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

3  Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the  Lord?  or  who 
shall  stand  in  his  holy  place? 

4  He  that  hath  clean  hands,  and  a  pure  heart;  who 
hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul  unto  vanity,  nor  sworn 
deceitfully. 

5  He  shall  receive  the  blessing  from  the  Lord,  and 
righteousness  from  the  God  of  his  salvation. 

6  This  is  the  generation  of  them  that  seek  him,  that 
seek  thy  face,  O  Jacob. 

9  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates;  even  lift  them  up,  ye 
everlasting  doors;  and  the  King  of  glory  shall  come  in. 

10  Who  is  this  King  of  glory?  The  Lord  of  hosts,  he 
is  the  King  of  glory. 

The  Lesson-Sermon  consisted  of  the  following  citations 
from  the  Bible  and  "  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures"  by  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  was 
read  by  Mr.  McCrackan  and  Mrs.  Conant:  — 


The  Bible 

Science  and  Health  ^ 

Genesis  3  :  9-1 1 

224  :  22 

Proverbs  8  : 1,  4,  7 

559  : 8-10,  19 

Mark  2  :  15-17 

II 

181  :  21-25 
307  :  31-8 

Psalms  51  : 1-3,  6, 

10, 

12, 

308  :  8,  16-28  This; 

13,  17 

Jacob 
323  :  19-24,  28-32 
When;   The  effects 

*  The  Science  and  Health  references 

in  this  lesson  are  according 

to  the  1913  edition. 

COMMUNION  SERVICE  AND  DEDICATION     35 


in 


The  Bible 
Hebrews  11  : 1,  3,  6 
Proverbs  3  :  5,  6 
Job  28  :  20,  23,  28 
1  Corinthians  14  :  20 


Psalms  86  :  15,  16 
Matthew  9  : 2-8 


Science  and  Health 
297  :  20  Faith 
241  :  23-27 
275:25 

505  :  21-28  Under- 
standing 
536:8 


IV 


345  :  31 

337  :  10 

525:4 

494  :  30-2  Our  Master 

476  :  32-4 

171  :4 


Mark  12  :  30,  31 
John  21  : 1  (first 
clause),  14-17 
1  John  4 : 21 


VI 

John  21  : 4-6,  9,  12,  13 
Revelation  3  :  20 
Revelation  7  :  13,  14,  16, 17 


9  :  17-21  Dost  thou 
53:8-11 
54:29-1 
560  :  11-19,  22  The 

great;  Abuse 
565  :  18-22. 


34  :  29-29 


During   the   progress   of   each   service.    First   Reader 
William  D.  McCrackan  read  to  the  congregation  the 


36     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

dedicatory  Message  from  their  teacher  and  Leader,  Mrs. 
Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

The  telegram  from  the  church  to  Mrs.  Eddy  was  read 
by  Mr.  Edward  A.  Kimball  of  Chicago,  and  the  five 
thousand  present  rose  as  one  to  indicate  their  approval 
of  it. 

Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  Pastor  Emeritus. 

Beloved  Teacher  and  Leader:  —  The  members  of  your 
church  have  assembled  at  this  sacred  time  to  commune 
with  our  infinite  heavenly  Father  and  again  to  consecrate 
all  that  we  are  or  hope  to  be  to  a  holy  Christian  service 
that  shall  be  acceptable  unto  God. 

Most  of  us  are  here  because  we  have  been  delivered  from 
beds  of  sickness  or  withheld  from  open  graves  or  reclaimed 
from  vice  or  redeemed  from  obdurate  sin.  We  have  ex- 
changed the  tears  of  sorrow  for  the  joy  of  repentance  and 
the  peace  of  a  more  righteous  living,  and  now  with  blessed 
accord  we  are  come,  in  humility,  to  pour  out  our  gratitude 
to  God  and  to  bear  witness  to  the  abundance  of  salvation 
through  His  divine  Christ. 

At  this  altar,  dedicated  to  the  only  true  God,  we  who 
have  been  delivered  from  the  depths  increase  the  measure 
of  our  devotion  to  the  daily  life  and  purpose  which  are  in 
the  image  and  likeness  of  God. 

By  these  stately  walls;  by  this  sheltering  dome;  by 
all  the  beauty  of  color  and  design,  the  Christian  Scientists 
of  the  world,  in  tender  affection  for  the  cause  of  human 
weal,  have  fulfilled  a  high  resolve  and  set  up  this  taber- 
nacle, which  is  to  stand  as  an  enduring  monument,  a  sign 
of  your  understanding  and  proof  that  our  Supreme 
God,  through  His  power  and  law,  is  the  natural  healer 


COMMUNION  SERVICE  AND  DEDICATION    37 

of  all  our  diseases  and  hath  ordained  the  way  of  salva- 
tion of  all  men  from  all  evil.  No  vainglorious  boast, 
no  pride  of  circumstances  has  place  within  the  sacred 
confines  of  this  sanctuary.  Naught  else  than  the  gran- 
deur of  humility  and  the  incense  of  gratitude  and  com- 
passionate love  can  acceptably  ascend  heavenward  from 
this  house  of  God. 

It  is  from  the  depths  of  tenderest  gratitude,  respect, 
and  affection  that  we  declare  again  our  high  appreciation 
of  all  that  you  have  done  and  continue  to  do  for  the  ever- 
lasting advantage  of  this  race.  Through  you  has  been 
revealed  the  verity  and  rule  of  the  Christianity  of  Christ 
which  has  ever  healed  the  sick.  By  your  fidelity  and  the 
constancy  of  your  obedience  during  forty  years  you  have 
demonstrated  this  Science  before  the  gaze  of  universal 
humanity.  By  reason  of  your  spiritual  achievement  the 
Cause  of  Christian  Science  has  been  organized  and  main- 
tained, its  followers  have  been  prospered,  and  the  philos- 
ophy of  the  ages  transformed.  Recognizing  the  grand 
truth  that  God  is  the  supreme  cause  of  all  the  activities  of 
legitimate  existence,  we  also  recognize  that  He  has  made 
known  through  your  spiritual  perception  the  substance 
of  Christian  Science,  and  that  this  church  owes  itself  and 
its  prosperity  to  the  unbroken  activity  of  your  labors, 
which  have  been  and  will  still  be  the  pretext  for  our 
confident  and  favorable  expectation. 

We  have  read  your  annual  IMessage  to  this  church. 
We  are  deeply  touched  by  its  sweet  entreaty,  its  ineffable 
loving-kindness,  its  wise  counsel  and  admonition. 

With  sacred  resolution  do  we  pray  that  we  may  give 
heed  and  ponder  and  obey.  We  would  be  glad  if  our 
prayers,  our  rejoicing,  and  our  love  could  recompense  your 


38     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

long  sacrifice  and  bestow  upon  you  the  balm  of  heavenly 
joy,  but  knowing  that  every  perfect  gift  cometh  from 
above,  and  that  in  God  is  all  consolation  and  comfort, 
we  rest  in  this  satisfying  assurance,  while  we  thank  you 
and  renew  the  story  of  our  love  for  you  and  for  all  that 
you  are  and  all  that  you  have  done  for  us. 

William  B.  Johnson,  Clerk. 

By  means  of  a  carefully  trained  corps  of  ushers,  num- 
bering two  hundred,  there  was  no  confusion  in  finding 
seats,  and  when  all  seating  space  had  been  filled  no  more 
were  admitted  until  the  next  service.  The  church  was 
filled  for  each  service  in  about  twenty  minutes,  and  was 
emptied  in  twelve,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  many  of 
the  visitors  showed  a  tendency  to  tarry  to  examine  the 
church. 

It  was  "children's  day"  at  noon,  for  the  service  at  half 
past  twelve  was  specially  reserved  for  them.  They  filled 
all  the  seats  in  the  body  of  the  church,  and  when  it  came 
to  the  singing,  the  little  ones  were  not  a  whit  behind  their 
elders,  their  shrill  trebles  rising  with  the  roll  of  the  organ 
in  almost  perfect  time.  In  every  respect  their  service  was 
the  same  as  all  the  others. 

There  was  no  more  impressive  feature  of  the  dedication 
than  the  silent  communion.  Devout  Scientists  said  after 
the  service  that  they  would  ever  carry  with  them  the 
memory  of  it. 

THE    ANNUAL    MEETING,    JUNE    12,    1906 

The  annual  meeting  of  The  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  in  Boston,  was  held  in  the  extension  of  The 
Mother  Church,  Tuesday,  June  12,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  39 

forenoon,  and  in  order  to  accommodate  those  who  could 
not  gain  admittance  at  that  horn*  a  second  session  was  held 
at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  meeting  was  opened 
by  the  President,  Rev.  William  P.  McKenzie,  who  read 
from  the  Bible  and  Science  and  Health  as  follows :  — 

The  Bible  Science  and  Health 

Isaiah  54  :  1-5,  10-15,  571  :  22 

17  574  :  3-16,  27   The  Revela- 

Revelation  19  : 1,  6-9.  tor;   The  very 

577  : 4. 

Then  followed  a  short  silent  prayer  and  the  audible 
repetition  of  the  Lord's  Prayer,  in  which  all  joined.  The 
following  list  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  was  read  by 
the  Clerk:  — 

President,  Willis  F.  Gross,  C.S.B.;  Treasurer,  Stephen 
A.  Chase,  C.S.D.;    Clerk,  Wilham  B.  Johnson,  C.S.D. 

In  introducing  the  new  President,  Mr.  McKenzie  said : — 

When  I  introduce  the  incoming  President,  my  modest 
task  will  be  ended.  You  will  allow  me,  however,  the 
privilege  of  saying  a  few  words  of  reminder  and  prophecy. 
My  thoughts  revert  to  a  former  occasion,  when  it  was  my 
pleasant  duty  to  preside  at  an  annual  meeting  when  our 
Pastor  Emeritus,  Mrs.  Eddy,  was  present.  We  remember 
her  graciousness  and  dignity.  We  recall  the  harmonious 
tones  of  her  gentle  voice.  Our  hearts  were  thrilled  by  her 
compassion,  and  the  memory  lives  with  us.  But  even  more 
distinctly  may  we  realize  her  presence  with  us  to-day. 
Why?  Because  our  own  growth  in  love  and  unity  enables 
us  to  comprehend  better  the  strength  and  beauty  of  her 
character. 


40     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

Moreover,  this  completed  extension  of  The  Mother 
Church  is  an  evidence  to  us  of  her  hospitable  love.  She 
has  desired  for  years  to  have  her  church  able  to  give 
more  adequate  reception  to  those  who  hunger  and  thirst 
after  practical  righteousness;  and  we  are  sure  that  now 
the  branch  churches  of  The  Mother  Church  will  also  en- 
large their  hospitality,  so  that  these  seekers  everywhere 
may  be  satisfied.  This  will  imply  the  subsidence  of  criti- 
cism among  workers.  It  may  even  imply  that  some  who 
have  been  peacebreakers  shall  willingly  enter  into  the 
blessedness  of  peacemakers.  Nothing  will  be  lost,  how- 
ever, by  those  who  relinquish  their  cherished  resentments, 
forsake  animosity,  and  abandon  their  strongholds  of 
rivalry.  Through  rivalries  among  leaders  Christendom 
became  divided  into  warring  sects;  but  the  demand 
of  this  age  is  for  peacemaking,  so  that  Christianity 
may  more  widely  reassert  its  pristine  power  to  bring 
health  and  a  cure  to  pain-racked  and  sorrow-worn  hu- 
manity. "The  wisdom  that  is  from  above  is  first 
pure,  then  peaceable,  .  .  .  And  the  fruit  of  righteous- 
ness is  sown  in  peace  of  them  that  make  peace." 
"Blessed  are  the  peacemakers:  for  they  shall  be  called 
the  children  of  God." 

Our  Leader,  Mrs.  Eddy,  has  presented  to  the  world  the 
ideal  of  Christianity,  because  she  is  an  exact  metaphysi- 
cian. She  has  illustrated  what  the  poet  perceived  when  he 
said,  "All's  love,  but  all's  law."  She  has  obeyed  the  divine 
Principle,  Love,  without  regrets  and  without  resistance. 
Human  sense  often  rebels  against  law,  hence  the  proverb : 
Dura  lex,  sed  lex  (Hard  is  the  law,  nevertheless  it  is 
the  law).  But  by  her  own  blameless  and  happy  life, 
as  well  as  by  her  teachings,  our  Leader  has  induced  a 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  41 

multitude  —  how  great  no  man  can  number  —  to  be- 
come gladly  obedient  to  law,  so  that  they  think  rightly 
or  righteously. 

No  one  can  change  the  law  of  Christian  metaphysics, 
the  law  of  right  thinking,  nor  in  any  wise  alter  its 
effects.  It  is  a  forever  fact  that  the  meek  and  lowly  in 
heart  are  blessed  and  comforted  by  divine  Love.  If  the 
proud  are  lonely  and  uncomforted,  it  is  because  they 
have  thoughts  adverse  to  the  law  of  love.  Pride,  arro- 
gance, and  self-will  are  unmerciful,  and  so  receive  judg- 
ment without  mercy;  but  the  law  of  metaphysics  says, 
"Blessed  are  the  merciful,"  and  will  allow  no  one  to 
escape  that  blessedness,  howsoever  far  he  may  stray, 
whatsoever  lawlessness  of  hatred  he  may  practise  and 
suffer  from. 

So  we  see  that  Christian  Science  makes  no  compromise 
with  e\'il,  sin,  wrong,  or  imperfection,  but  maintains  the 
perfect  standard  of  truth  and  righteousness  and  joy.  It 
teaches  us  to  rise  from  sentimental  affection  which  ad- 
mires friends  and  hates  enemies,  into  brotherly  love  which 
is  just  and  kind  to  all  and  unable  to  cherish  any  enmity. 
It  brings  into  present  and  hourly  application  what  Paul 
termed  "the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus,"  and 
shows  man  that  his  real  estate  is  one  of  blessedness.  Why 
should  any  one  postpone  his  legitimate  joy,  and  disregard 
his  lawful  inheritance,  which  is  "incorruptible  and  unde- 
filed"?  Our  Leader  and  teacher  not  only  discovered 
Christian  Science,  but  through  long  years  of  consecration 
has  obeyed  its  every  demand,  for  our  sakes  as  well  as 
for  her  own;  and  we  begin  to  understand  how  illim- 
itable is  the  Love  which  supports  such  selfless  devotion, 
we  begin  to  comprehend  the  "beauty  of  holiness,"  and 


42     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

to  be  truly  grateful  to  her  who  has  depicted  its  form 
and  comeliness.  We  have  found  it  true  that  "she 
openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom;  and  in  her  tongue  is 
the  law  of  kindness." 

It  is  my  pleasure  to  introduce  to  you  a  faithful  follower 
of  this  Leader  as  the  President  for  the  coming  year,  Willis 
F.  Gross,  C.S.B.,  one  who  has  for  many  years  "witnessed 
a  good  confession"  in  the  practice  of  Christian  Science. 
You  are  no  doubt  already  acquainted  with  him  as  one  of 
the  helpful  contributors  to  our  periodicals,  so  that  any 
further  words  of  mine  are  unnecessary. 

Mr.  Gross,  on  assuming  office,  said :  — 

Beloved  Friends:  —  Most  unexpectedly  to  me  came  the 
call  to  serve  you  in  this  capacity,  and  I  desire  to  improve 
this  opportunity  to  express  my  thanks  for  the  honor  con- 
ferred upon  me.  With  a  heart  filled  with  gratitude  for  the 
countless  blessings  which  have  come  into  my  life  through 
Christian  Science,  I  shall  endeavor  to  perform  this  service 
to  the  best  of  my  ability. 

It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  welcome  you  to  our  first 
annual  meeting  held  in  the  extension  of  The  Mother 
Church.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  speak  of  the  deep  signifi- 
cance of  this  momentous  occasion.  I  realize  that  only  as 
infinite  good  unfolds  in  each  individual  consciousness  can 
we  begin  to  comprehend,  even  in  small  degree,  how  great 
is  the  work  that  has  been  inaugurated  by  our  beloved 
Leader,  how  faithful  is  her  allegiance  to  God,  how  untiring 
are  her  efforts,  and  how  successful  she  is  in  the  performance 
of  her  daily  tasks. 

"  With  a  mighty  hand,  and  with  an  outstretched  arm " 
were  the  children  of  Israel  delivered  from  the  bondage  of 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  43 

• 
the  Eg}T)tians,  but  this  deliverance  did  not  put  them  in 
possession  of  the  promised  land.  An  unknown  wilder- 
ness was  before  them,  and  that  wilderness  must  be  con- 
quered. The  law  was  given  that  they  might  know  what 
was  required  of  them,  that  they  might  have  a  definite  rule 
of  action  whereby  to  order  aright  the  affairs  of  daily  life. 
Obedience  to  the  demands  of  the  law  revealed  the  God 
of  their  fathers,  and  they  learned  to  know  Him.  During 
their  sojourn  in  the  wilderness  they  suffered  defeats  and 
met  with  disappointments,  but  they  learned  from  experi- 
ence and  finally  became  willingly  obedient  to  the  voice  of 
their  leader.  The  crossing  of  the  Jordan  brought  them 
into  the  promised  land,  and  this  experience  was  almost 
as  marvellous  as  had  been  the  passage  of  the  Red  Sea 
forty  years  before.  In  obedience  to  the  command  of 
Joshua,  twelve  stones  taken  from  the  midst  of  the  river 
were  set  up  on  the  other  side  for  a  memorial.  In  future 
generations  when  it  was  asked,  "  What  mean  ye  by  these 
stones?"  it  was  told  them:  Israel  came  over  this  Jordan 
on  dry  ground. 

Forty  years  ago  the  Science  of  Christian  healing  was 
revealed  to  our  beloved  Leader,  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker 
Eddy.  A  few  years  later  she  gave  us  our  textbook, 
"  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures."  Obedi- 
ence to  the  teachings  of  this  book  has  brought  us  to  this 
hour.  We  have  learned  from  exp)erience,  and  to-day  we 
rejoice  that  we  have  found  in  Christian  Science  that 
which  heals  and  saves. 

The  world  looks  with  wonder  upon  this  grand  achieve- 
ment, —  the  completion  and  dedication  of  our  magnificent 
temple,  —  and  many  are  asking,  "  What  mean  ye  by  these 
stones?"    The  answer  is.  The  way  out  of  the  wilderness 


.  44     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

• 
of  human  beliefs  has  been  revealed.  Through  the  under- 
standing of  God  as  an  ever-present  help,  the  sick  are  being 
healed,  the  shackles  of  sin  are  being  broken,  heavy  burdens 
are  being  laid  down,  tears  are  being  wiped  away,  and 
Israel  is  going  up  to  possess  the  promised  land  of  eternal, 
harmonious  existence. 

Friends,  our  progress  may  be  fast  or  it  may  be  slow, 
but  one  thing  is  certain,  it  will  be  sure,  if  we  are  obe- 
dient to  the  loving  counsel  of  our  ever  faithful  Leader. 
The  Christ  is  here,  has  come  to  individual  conscious- 
ness; and  the  faithful  disciple- rejoices  in  prophecy  ful- 
filled, "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of 
the  world." 

Telegram  to  Mrs.  Eddy 

Judge  Septimus  J.  Hanna  then  advanced  to  the 
front  of  the  platform,  read  the  following  despatch,  and 
moved  that  it  be  forwarded  at  once  to  our  Leader, 
Mrs.  Eddy.  The  motion  was  carried  unanimously  by  a 
rising  vote. 

The  despatch  was  as  follows:  — 

To  THE  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 

Beloved  Teacher  and  Leader:  —  The  members  of  The 
Mother  Church,  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
in  Boston,  Mass.,  in  annual  meeting  assembled,  hereby 
convey  to  you  their  sincere  greetings  and  their  deep 
love. 

They  desire  to  express  their  continued  loyalty  to  your 
teachings,  their  unshaken  confidence  in  the  unerring  wis- 
dom of  your  leadership,  and  their  confident  assurance 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  45 

that  strict  and  intelligent  recognition  of  and  obedience  to 
the  comprehensive  means  by  you  provided  for  the  further- 
ance of  our  Cause,  will  result  in  its  perpetuity  as  well 
as  in  the  ultimate  regeneration  of  its  adherents  and  of 
mankind. 

We  are  witnessing  with  joy  and  gratitude  the  significant 
events  associated  with  this,  one  of  the  greatest  and  most 
important  gatherings  of  Christian  Scientists  in  the  annals 
of  our  history.  Yet  the  upwards  of  thirty  thousand  who 
are  physically  present  at  the  dedication  represent  only  a 
small  part  of  the  entire  body  who  are  of  us  and  with  us 
in  the  animus  and  spirit  of  our  movement. 

The  great  temple  is  finished !  That  which  you  have  long 
prophetically  seen  has  been  accomplished.  The  magnifi- 
cent edifice  stands  a  fitting  monument  of  your  obedience 
and  fidelity  to  the  divine  Principle  revealed  to  you  in  that 
momentous  hour  when  purblind  mortal  sense  declared  you 
to  be  in  extremis.  You  followed  unswervingly  the  guid- 
ance of  Him  who  went  before  you  by  day  in  a  pillar  of 
cloud  to  lead  you  in  the  way,  and  by  night  in  a  pillar 
of  fire  to  give  you  light,  and  the  results  of  such  following 
have  been  marvellous  beyond  human  ken.  As  clearly 
as  in  retrospect  we  see  the  earlier  leading,  we  now  discern 
the  fulfilment  of  the  later  prophecy,  that  "  He  took  not 
away  the  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  nor  the  pillar  of  fire  by 
night,"  for  each  advancing  step  has  logically  followed 
the  preceding  one. 

The  great  temple  is  finished !  This  massive  pile  of  New 
Hampshire  granite  and  Bedford  stone,  rising  to  a  height 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet,  one  foot  loftier  than 
the  Bunker  Hill  monument,  stands  a  material  type  of 
Truth's  permanence.     In  solid  foundation,  in  symmetrical 


46     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

arches,  in  generous  hallways,  in  commodious  foyer  and 
broad  stairways,  in  exquisite  and  expansive  auditorium, 
and  in  towering,  overshadowing  dome,  the  great  structure 
stands,  silently  but  eloquently  beckoning  us  on  towards 
a  higher  and  more  spiritual  plane  of  living,  for  we  know 
that  without  this  spiritual  significance  it  were  but  a  pass- 
ing dream. 

In  the  best  sense  it  stands  in  prophetic  verity  of  the 
primary  declaration  of  this  church  in  its  original  organiza- 
tion; namely,  "To  organize  a  church  designed  to  com- 
memorate the  word  and  works  of  our  Master,  which  should 
reinstate  primitive  Christianity  and  its  lost  element 
of  healing."  (Church  Manual,  p.  17.)  To  rise  to  the 
demands  of  this  early  pronouncement  is  the  work  of  true 
Christian  Scientists. 

To  preach  the  gospel  and  heal  the  sick  on  the  Christ- 
basis  is  the  essential  requirement  of  a  reinstated  Chris- 
tianity. Only  as  we  pledge  ourselves  anew  to  this  demand, 
and  then  fulfil  the  pledge  in  righteous  living,  are  we  faith- 
ful, obedient,  deserving  disciples. 

On  this  solemn  occasion,  and  in  the  presence  of  this 
assembled  host,  we  do  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  a  deeper 
consecration,  a  more  sincere  and  Christly  love  of  God  and 
our  brother,  and  a  more  implicit  obedience  to  the  sacred 
teachings  of  the  Bible  and  our  textbook,  as  well  as  to  the 
all-inclusive  instructions  and  admonitions  of  our  Church 
Manual  in  its  spiritual  import,  that  we  may  indeed  reach 
"  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem, 
and  to  an  innumerable  company  of  angels,  to  the  general 
assembly  and  church  of  the  ^rstborn." 

William  B.  Johnson,  Clerk. 
Boston,  Mass.,  June  12,  1906. 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  47 

Report  of  the  Clerk 

Beloved  Brethren  of  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
in  Boston,  Mass.:  —  It  seems  meet  at  this  time,  when 
thousands  of  Christian  Scientists  have  gathered  here 
from  all  parts  of  the  world,  many  of  whom  have  not  had 
the  means  of  knowing  the  steps  by  which  this  church  has 
reached  its  present  growth,  to  present  in  this  report  a  few 
of  the  stages  of  its  progress,  as  gleaned  from  the  pages  of 
its  history. 

After  a  work  has  been  estabHshed,  has  grown  to  great 
magnitude,  and  people  the  world  over  have  been  touched 
by  its  influence  for  good,  it  is  with  joy  that  those  who  have 
labored  unceasingly  for  the  work  look  back  to  the  pictur- 
esque, interesting,  and  epoch-marking  stages  of  its  growth, 
and  recall  memories  of  trials,  progress,  and  victories  that 
are  precious  each  and  all.  To-day  we  look  back  over  the 
years  that  have  passed  since  the  inception  of  this  great 
Cause,  and  we  cannot  help  being  touched  by  each  land- 
mark of  progress  that  showed  a  forward  effort  into  the 
well-earned  joy  that  is  with  us  now.  For  a  Cause  that 
has  rooted  itself  in  so  many  distant  lands,  and  inspired  so 
many  of  different  races  and  tongues  into  the  demonstration 
of  the  knowledge  of  God,  the  years  that  have  passed  since 
Mrs.  Eddy  founded  her  first  church  seem  but  a  short 
time.  And  this  little  church,  God's  word  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  dogma  and  creed,  opened  an  era  of  Christian 
worship  founded  on  the  commands  of  Jesus:  "Go  ye 
into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature.  .  .  .  And  these  signs  shall  follow  them  that 
believe;  In  my  name  shall  they  cast  out  devils;  they 
shall  speak  with  new  tongues;   they  shall  take  up  ser- 


48     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

pents;  and  if  they  drink  any  deadly  thing,  it  shall  not 
hurt  them;  they  shall  lay  hands  on  the  sick,  and  they 
shall  recover." 

Not  until  nineteen  centuries  had  passed  was  there  one 
ready  to  receive  the  inspiration,  to  restore  to  human  con- 
sciousness the  stone  that  had  been  rejected,  and  which 
Mrs.  Eddy  made  "the  head  of  the  corner"  of  The  Church 
of  Christ,  Scientist. 

With  the  reading  of  her  textbook,  "Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,"  Mrs.  Eddy  insisted 
that  her  students  make,  every  day,  a  prayerful  study  of 
the  Bible,  and  obtain  the  spiritual  understanding  of  its 
promises.  Upon  this  she  founded  the  future  growth  of 
her  church,  and  twenty-six  years  later  the  following 
splendid  appreciation  of  her  efforts  appeared  in  the 
Methodist  Review  from  the  pen  of  the  late  Frederick 
Lawrence  Knowles :  — 

"Mrs.  Eddy  ...  in  her  insistence  upon  the  constant 
daily  reading  of  the  Bible  and  her  own  writings,  .  .  . 
has  given  to  her  disciples  a  means  of  spiritual  development 
which  .  .  .  will  certainly  build  such  truth  as  they  do  gain 
into  the  marrow  of  their  characters.  The  scorn  of  the 
gross  and  sensual,  and  the  subordination  of  merely  material 
to  spiritual  values,  together  with  the  discouragement  of 
care  and  worry,  are  all  forces  that  make  for  righteousness. 
And  they  are  burned  indelibly  upon  the  mind  of  the 
neophyte  every  day  through  its  reading.  The  intellects 
of  these  people  are  not  drugged  by  scandal,  drowned  in 
frivolity,  or  paralyzed  by  sentimental  fiction.  .  .  .  They 
feed  the  higher  nature  through  the  mind,  and  I  am  bound 
as  an  observer  of  them  to  say,  in  all  fairness,  that  the 
result  is  already  manifest  in  their  faces,  their  conversation, 


THE   ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  49 

and  their  bearing,  both  in  public  and  private.  What 
wonder  that  when  these  smihng  people  say,  'Come  thou 
with  us,  and  we  will  do  thee  good,'  the  hitherto  half- 
persuaded  one  is  wholly  drawn  over,  as  by  an  irresistible 
attraction.  The  religious  body  which  can  direct,  and  con- 
trol, in  no  arbitrary  sense,  but  through  sane  counsel,  the 
reading  of  its  membership,  stands  a  great  chance  of  sweep- 
ing the  world  within  a  generation." 

The  charter  of  this  little  church  was  obtained  August 
23,  1879,  and  in  the  same  month  the  members  extended  a 
unanimous  invitation  to  ^Irs.  Eddy  to  become  its  pastor. 
At  a  meeting  of  those  who  were  interested  in  forming  the 
church,  JVIrs.  Eddy  was  appointed  on  the  committee  to 
formulate  the  rules  and  by-laws,  also  the  tenets  and  church 
covenant.  The  first  business  meeting  of  the  church  was 
held  August  16,  1S79,  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  electing  oflBcers.  August  22  the  Clerk,  by  instruc- 
tions received  at  the  previous  meeting,  sent  an  invitation 
to  Mrs.  Eddy  to  become  pastor  of  the  church.  August  27 
the  church  held  a  meeting,  with  Mrs.  Eddy  in  the  chair. 
An  interesting  record  of  this  meeting  reads :  "  The  minutes 
of  the  previous  meeting  were  read  and  approved.  Then 
Mrs.  Eddy  proceeded  to  instruct  those  present  as  to  their 
duties  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  giving  some  useful  hints  as 
to  the  mode  of  conducting  the  church." 

At  a  meeting  held  October  19, 1879,  it  was  unanimously 
voted  that  "  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Eddy  merited  the  thanks  of  the 
society  for  their  devoted  labors  in  the  cause  of  Truth," 
and  at  the  annual  meeting,  December  1  of  the  same  year, 
it  was  voted  to  instruct  the  Clerk  to  call  Mrs.  Eddy 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  church,  and  at  this  meeting  IVIrs. 
Eddy  accepted  the  call.    The  first  meeting  of  this  little 


50     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

church  for  deliberation  before  a  Communion  Sabbath 
was  held  at  the  home  of  the  pastor,  Mrs.  Eddy,  Jan- 
uary 2,  1880. 

Most  of  those  present  had  left  their  former  church 
homes,  in  which  they  had  labored  faithfully  and  ardently, 
and  had  united  themselves  into  a  little  band  of  prayerful 
workers.  As  the  Pilgrims  felt  the  strangeness  of  their 
new  home,  the  vast  gloom  of  the  mysterious  forests,  and 
knew  not  the  trials  before  them,  so  this  little  band  of 
pioneers,  guided  by  their  dauntless  Leader  and  teacher, 
starting  out  on  their  labors  against  the  currents  of  dogma, 
creed,  sickness,  and  sin,  must  have  felt  a  pecuHar  sense  of 
isolation,  for  their  records  state,  "  The  tone  of  this  meeting 
for  deliberation  before  Communion  Sabbath  was  rather 
sorrowful;"  but  as  they  turned  steadfastly  from  the  mor- 
tal side,  and  looked  towards  the  spiritual,  as  the  records 
further  relate,  "yet  there  was  a  feeling  of  trust  in  the 
great  Father,  of  Love  prevailing  over  the  apparently  dis- 
couraging outlook  of  the  Church  of  Christ."  The  Com- 
munion Sunday,  however,  brought  fresh  courage  to  the 
earnest  band,  and  the  records  contain  these  simple  but 
suggestive  words,  —  "Sunday,  January  4,  1880.  The 
church  celebrated  her  Communion  Sabbath  as  a  church, 
and  it  was  a  very  inspiring  season  to  us  all,  and  two  new 
members  were  added  to  the  church."  This  was  indeed 
the  little  church  in  the  wilderness,  and  few  knew  of  its 
teachings,  but  those  few  saw  the  grandeur  of  its  work 
and  were  willing  to  labor  for  the  Cause. 

The  record  of  May  23, 1880,  more  than  twenty-six  years 
ago,  states :  "  Our  pastor,  Mrs.  Eddy,  preached  her  fare- 
well sermon  to  the  church.  The  business  committee  met 
after  the  services  to  call  a  general  meeting  of  the  church 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  51 

to  devise  means  to  pay  our  pastor,  so  as  to  keep  her  with 
us,  as  there  is  no  one  in  the  world  who  could  take  her  place 
in  teaching  us  the  Science  of  Life."  May  26  of  the  same 
year  the  following  resolutions  were  passed:  "That  the 
members  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  all  others  now  in- 
terested in  said  church,  do  most  sincerely  regret  that  our 
pastor,  Mrs.  Eddy,  feels  it  her  duty  to  tender  her  resigna- 
tion, and  while  we  feel  that  she  has  not  met  with  the 
support  that  she  should  have  reason  to  expect,  we  venture 
to  hope  she  will  remain  with  us.  That  it  would  be  a 
serious  blow  to  her  Cause  to  have  the  public  services 
discontinued  at  a  time  when  there  is  such  an  interest 
manifested  on  the  part  of  the  people,  and  we  know  of  no 
one  who  is  so  able  as  she  to  lead  us  to  the  higher  under- 
standing of  Christianity,  whereby  to  heal  the  sick  and 
reform  the  sinner.  It  was  moved  to  instruct  the  Clerk  to 
have  our  pastor  remain  with  us  for  a  few  Sundays  if  not 
permanently." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church,  December  15,  1880,  an  invi- 
tation was  extended  to  Mrs.  Eddy  to  accept  the  pastorate 
for  the  ensuing  year;  but,  as  the  records  state,  "she  gave 
no  definite  answer,  believing  that  it  was  for  the  interest 
of  the  Cause,  and  her  duty,  to  go  into  new  fields  to 
teach  and  preach." 

An  interesting  record  relative  to  this  very  early  work  of 
the  church,  and  its  appreciation  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  tireless 
labors,  is  that  of  July  20,  1881,  which  reads,  "That  we, 
the  members  of  The  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  tender  to 
our  beloved  pastor,  ]\Irs.  Eddy,  the  heartfelt'  thanks  and 
gratitude  shared  by  all  who  have  attended  the  services,  in 
appreciation  of  her  earnest  endeavors,  her  arduous  labors, 
and  successful  instructions  to  heal  the  sick,  and  reform 


52     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

the  sinner,  by  metaphysical  truth  or  Christian  Science,  dur- 
ing the  past  year.  Resolved :  That  while  she  had  many 
obstacles  to  overcome,  many  mental  hardships  to  endure, 
she  has  borne  them  bravely,  blessing  them  that  curse  her, 
loving  them  that  despitefully  use  her,  thereby  giving  in 
her  Christian  example,  as  well  as  her  instructions,  the 
highest  type  of  womanhood,  or  the  love  that  heals.  And 
while  we  sincerely  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  to  her, 
and  to  God,  for  these  blessings,  we,  each  and  all,  will  make 
greater  efforts  more  faithfully  to  sustain  her  in  her  work. 
Resolved:  That  while  we  realize  the  rapid  growth,  and 
welcome  the  fact  of  the  spreading  world  wide  of  this  great 
truth,  that  Mind,  Truth,  Life,  and  Love,  as  taught  and 
expressed  by  our  pastor,  does  heal  the  sick,  and,  when 
understood,  does  bring  out  the  perfection  of  all  things,  we 
also  realize  we  must  use  more  energy  and  unselfish  labor 
to  establish  these  our  Master's  commands  and  our  pastor's 
teachings,  namely,  heal  the  sick,  and  preach  the  gospel, 
and  love  our  neighbor  as  ourselves." 

Eighteen  years  ago,  the  Rev.  James  Henry  Wiggin,  who 
was  not  a  Christian  Scientist,  wrote  as  follows:  "What- 
ever is  to  be  Mrs.  Eddy's  future  reputation,  time  will 
show.  Little  cares  she,  if  only  through  her  work  Truth 
may  be  glorified.  More  than  once,  in  her  earnestness,  she 
has  reached  her  bottom  dollar,  but  the  interest  of  the 
world  to  hear  her  word  has  always  filled  her  coffers  anew. 
Within  a  few  months  she  has  made  sacrifices  from  which 
most  authors  would  have  shrunk,  to  insure  the  moral 
rightness  of  her  book."  This  statement  "Fhare  Pleigh" 
[the  nom  de  ylume  of  the  Rev.  James  Henry  Wiggin] 
makes  out  of  his  own  peculiar  knowledge  of  the  circum- 
stances.    "  Day  after  day  flew  by,  and  weeks  lengthened 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  53 

into  months;  from  every  quarter  came  important  mis- 
sives of  inquiry  and  mercantile  reproach;  hundreds  of 
dollars  were  sunk  into  a  bottomless  sea  of  corrections; 
yet  not  until  the  authoress  was  satisfied  that  her  duty 
was  wholly  done,  would  she  allow  printer  and  binder  to 
send  forth  her  book  to  the  world."  This  book  has  now 
reached  its  four  hundredth  edition,  each  of  one  thousand 
copies. 

On  September  8,  1882,  it  was  voted  that  the  church 
hold  its  meetings  of  worship  in  the  parlors  of  Mrs,  Eddy's 
home,  569  Columbus  Avenue,  Boston.  The  services  were 
held  there  until  November,  1883,  and  then  in  the  Haw- 
thorne Rooms,  at  No.  3  Park  Street,  the  seating  capacity 
of  which  place  was  about  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five.  At  a  meeting  October  22,  1883,  the  church  voted 
to  wait  upon  Mrs.  Eddy,  to  ascertain  if  she  would 
preach  for  the  society  for  ten  dollars  a  Sunday,  which 
invitation  she  accepted.  After  establishing  itself  as  a 
church  in  the  Hawthorne  Rooms,  the  number  of  atten- 
dants steadily  increased.  The  pulpit  was  supplied  by 
Mrs.  Eddy,  when  she  could  give  the  time  to  preach, 
and  by  her  students  and  by  clergymen  of  different 
denominations,  among  whom  was  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Pea- 
body,  D.D.,  of  Cambridge,  Mass. 

The  annual  report  of  the  business  committee  of  the 
church,  for  the  year  ending  December  7,  1885,  contains 
some  very  interesting  statements,  among  which  is  this: 
"There  was  a  steadily  increasing  interest  in  Christian 
Science  among  the  people,  even  though  the  continuity 
of  thought  must  have  been  very  much  broken  by  having 
so  many  different  ones  address  them  on  the  subject. 
When  our  pastor  preached  for  us  it  was  found  that  the 


54     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

Hawthorne  Rooms  were  inadequate  for  the  occasion, 
hundreds  going  away  who  could  not  obtain  entrance; 
those  present  enduring  the  inconvenience  that  comes 
from  crowding,  for  the  sake  of  the  eternal  truth  she 
taught  them."  The  Boston  Traveler  contained  the  fol- 
lowing item :  "  The  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  had  their 
meeting  Easter  Sunday  at  Hawthorne  Rooms,  which 
were  crowded  one  hour  before  the  service  commenced, 
and  half  an  hour  before  the  arrival  of  the  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  tide  of  men  and  women 
was  turned  from  the  door  with  the  information,  *No 
more  standing-room.'" 

On  February  8,  1885,  communion  was  held  at  Odd 
Fellows  Hall,  and  there  were  present  about  eight  hundred 
people.  At  this  time  the  Hawthorne  Rooms,  which  had 
been  regarded  as  the  church  home,  were  outgrown.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  vacation,  different  places  were  considered, 
but  no  place  suitable  could  be  found  that  was  available, 
and  the  Sunday  services  were  postponed.  There  was  an 
expectation  that  some  place  would  be  obtained,  but  the 
desire  for  services  was  so  great  that  the  Hawthorne  Rooms 
were  again  secured.  A  record  of  this  period  reads,  "It 
should  be  here  stated  that  from  the  first  of  September  to 
our  opening,  crowds  had  besieged  the  doors  at  the  Haw- 
thorne Rooms,  Sunday  after  Sunday."  On  October  18, 
1885,  the  rooms  were  opened  and  a  large  congregation 
was  present.  It  was  then  concluded  to  engage  Chickering 
Hall  on  Tremont  Street.  In  the  previous  consideration 
of  places  for  meeting  it  had  been  decided  that  this  hall 
was  too  large,  as  it  seated  four  hundred  and  sixty-four. 
The  first  Sunday  service  held  in  Chickering  Hall  was  on 
October  25,  1885.    Mrs.  Eddy  preached  at  this  service 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  55 

and  the  hall  was  crowded.  This  date  is  memorable  as 
the  one  upon  which  the  Sunday  School  was  formed. 

Meanwhile  it  was  felt  that  the  church  needed  a  place  of 
its  own,  and  efforts  were  made  to  obtain  by  purchase  some 
building,  or  church,  in  a  suitable  location.  Several  places 
were  considered,  but  were  not  satisfactory;  yet  the 
thought  of  obtaining  a  church  edifice,  although  given  up 
for  a  time,  was  not  forgotten.  In  the  mean  time,  not 
only  was  the  attendance  rapidly  growing  in  this  church  in 
Chickering  Hall,  but  the  Cause  itself  was  spreading  over 
the  land.  September  1,  1892,  Mrs,  Eddy  gave  the  plot  of 
ground  on  which  The  Mother  Church  now  stands.  On 
the  twenty- third  day  of  September,  1892,  twelve  of  the 
members  of  the  -church  met,  and,  upon  Mrs.  Eddy's 
counsel,  reorganized  the  church,  and  named  it  The  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist.  This  effort  of  jVIrs.  Eddy 
was  an  inspiration  to  Christian  Scientists,  and  plans  were 
made  for  a  church  home. 

In  the  mean  time  Sunday  services  were  held  in  Chicker- 
ing Hall,  and  continued  there  until  March,  1894,  and 
during  the  last  year  the  hall  was  crowded  to  overflowing. 
In  March,  however,  the  church  was  obliged  to  seek  other 
quarters,  as  Chickering  Hall  was  to  be  remodelled.  At  this 
time  the  church  removed  to  Copley  Hall  on  Clarendon 
Street,  which  had  a  seating  capacity  of  six  hundred  and 
twenty-five,  and  in  that  place  Sunday  services  were  held 
until  The  ^Mother  Church  edifice  was  ready  for  occupancy, 
December  30,  1894.  During  the  months  that  the  con- 
gregation worshipped  in  Copley  Hall  there  was  a  steady 
increase  in  attendance. 

Twelve  years  ago  the  twenty-first  of  last  month,  the 
comer-stone  of  The  Mother  Church  edifice  was  laid,  and 


56     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

at  that  time  it  was  thought  the  seating  capacity  would  be 
adequate  for  years  to  come.  Attendance  at  the  Sunday 
service  gradually  increased,  until  every  seat  was  filled  and 
many  stood  in  the  aisles,  and  in  consequence  two  services 
were  held,  morning  and  afternoon,  the  latter  a  repetition 
of  the  morning  service.  The  date  of  the  inauguration  of 
two  Sunday  services  was  April  26,  1896.  It  was  soon 
evident  that  even  this  provision  was  inadequate  to  meet 
the  need,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  organize  branch 
churches  in  such  suburbs  of  Boston  as  would  relieve 
the  overcrowded  condition  of  The  Mother  Church;  there- 
fore three  branch  churches  were  organized,  one  in  each  of 
the  following  named  places:  Cambridge,  Chelsea,  and 
Roxbury. 

For  a  while  it  seemed  that  there  would  be  ample  room 
for  growth  of  attendance  in  The  Mother  Church,  but  not- 
withstanding the  relief  that  the  organization  of  branch 
churches  had  given,  the  number  of  attendants  increased 
faster  than  ever.  From  the  time  that  the  three  foregoing 
named  churches  were  established,  the  membership  and  the 
attendance  at  them  and  at  The  Mother  Church  steadily 
grew,  and  more  branch  churches  were  established  in  other 
suburbs,  members  of  which  had  formerly  been  attendants 
at  The  Mother  Church.  In  the  spring  of  1905  the  over- 
crowded condition  of  the  morning  service  showed  that 
still  further  provision  must  be  made,  as  many  were  obliged 
to  leave  the  church  for  the  reason  that  there  was  not  even 
standing-room.  Therefore,  beginning  October  1,  1905, 
three  services  were  held  each  Sunday,  the  second  and 
third  being  rep>etitions  of  the  first  service. 

This  continued  growth,  this  continued  overcrowding, 
proved  the  need  of  a  larger  edifice.     Our  communion  ser- 


THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  1906  57 

vices  and  annual  meetings  were  overcrowded  in  The 
Mother  Church,  they  were  overcrowded  in  Tremont 
Temple,  in  Symphony  Hall,  and  in  the  Mechanics  Build- 
ing, and  the  need  was  felt  of  an  auditorium  that  would 
be  of  great  seating  capacity,  and  one  that  would  have  the 
sacred  atmosphere  of  a  church  home. 

In  ]\Irs.  Eddy's  Message  to  the  church  in  1902  she  sug- 
gested the  need  of  a  larger  church  edifice,  and  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  same  year  the  church  voted  to 
raise  any  part  of  two  millions  of  dollars  for  the  purpose  of 
building  a  suitable  edifice.  The  labor  of  clearing  the  land 
was  begun  in  October,  1903,  and  the  corner-stone  was 
laid  July  16,  1904. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  church  was  held  in 
Chickering  Hall,  October  3,  1893,  and  the  membership 
at  that  date  was  1,545.  The  membership  of  this 
church  to-day  is  40,011.  The  number  of  candidates 
admitted  June  5  of  this  year  is  the  largest  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  church  and  numbers  4,889,  which  is  2,194 
more  than  the  hitherto  largest  admission,  that  of  June, 
1903.  The  total  number  admitted  during  the  last 
year  is  6,181.  The  total  number  of  branch  churches 
advertised  in  The  Christian  Science  Journal  of  this 
June  is  682,  614  of  which  show  a  membership  of 
41,944.  The  number  of  societies  advertised  in  the 
Journal  is  267. 

Shortly  after  the  dedication  of  The  Mother  Church  in 
1894,  the  Boston  Evening  Transcript  said:  "Wonders  will 
never  cease.  Here  is  a  church  whose  Treasurer  has  sent 
out  word  that  no  sums  except  those  already  subscribed 
can  be  received.  The  Christian  Scientists  have  a  faith 
of  the  mustard-seed  variety.     What  a  pity  some  of  our 


58     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

practical  Christian  folk  have  not  a  faith  approximate  to 
that  of  these  impractical  Christian  Scientists." 

The  fact  that  a  notice  was  published  in  the  Christian 
Science  Sentinel  of  last  Saturday  that  no  more  funds 
are  needed  to  complete  the  extension  of  The  Mother 
Church,  proves  the  truth  of  the  axiom,  "History  re- 
peats itself."  These  are  the  evidences  of  the  magnifi- 
cent growth  of  this  Cause,  and  are  sufficient  refutation 
of  the  statements  that  have  been  made  that  "Christian 
Science  is  dying  out." 

The  majesty  and  the  dignity  of  this  church  edifice  not 
only  shows  the  growth  of  this  Cause,  but  proclaims  the 
trust,  the  willingness  of  those  who  have  contributed  to 
the  erection  of  these  mighty  walls. 

This  magnificent  structure,  this  fitting  testimonial  in 
stone,  speaks  more  than  words  can  picture  of  the  love  and 
gratitude  of  a  great  multitude  that  has  been  healed  and 
purified  through  the  labor  and  sacrifice  of  our  revered 
Leader  and  teacher,  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  one  through 
whom  God  has  revealed  a  demonstrable  way  of  salvation. 
May  her  example  inspire  us  to  follow  her  in  preaching, 
"The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand,"  by  healing  the 
sick  and  reforming  the  sinful,  and,  as  she  has  done,  ver- 
ifying Jesus'  words,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway." 

LETTERS  AND  EDITORIAL 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 

My  Dear  Teacher:  —  Of  the  many  thousands  who 
attended  the  dedicatory  services  at  the  Christian  Science 
church  last  Sunday  it  is  doubtful  if  there  was  one  so  deeply 


LETTERS  AND  EDITORIAL  59 

impressed  with  the  grandeur  and  magnitude  of  your  work 
as  was  the  writer,  whom  you  will  recall  as  a  member  of 
your  first  class  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  nearly  forty  years  ago. 
When  you  told  us  that  the  truth  you  expounded  was 
the  little  leaven  that  should  leaven  the  whole  lump,  we 
thought  this  might  be  true  in  some  far  distant  day 
beyond  our  mortal  vision.  It  was  above  conception 
that  in  less  than  forty  years  a  new  system  of  faith  and 
worship,  as  well  as  of  healing,  should  number  its  adher- 
ents by  the  hundreds  of  thousands  and  its  tenets  be 
accepted  wholly  or  in  part  by  nearly  every  religious  and 
scientific  body  in  the  civilized  world. 

Seated  in  the  gallery  of  that  magnificent  temple,  which 
has  been  reared  by  you,  gazing  across  that  sea  of  heads, 
listening  again  to  your  words  explaining  the  Scriptures, 
my  mind  was  carried  back  to  that  first  public  meeting  in 
the  little  hall  on  Market  Street,  Lynn,  where  you  preached 
to  a  handful  of  people  that  would  scarce  fill  a  couple  of 
pews  in  this  grand  amphitheatre;  and  as  I  heard  the  sono- 
rous tones  of  the  powerful  organ  and  the  mighty  chorus  of 
five  thousand  voices,  I  thought  of  the  little  melodeon  on 
which  my  wife  played,  and  of  my  own  feeble  attempts 
to  lead  the  singing. 

In  years  gone  by  I  have  been  asked,  "Did  Mrs.  Eddy 
really  write  Science  and  Health?  Some  say  she  did  not." 
My  answer  has  invariably  been,  "Send  those  who  say 
she  did  not  to  me.  I  heard  her  talk  it  before  it  was 
ever  written.  I  read  it  in  manuscript  before  it  was  ever 
printed."  Now  my  testimony  is  not  needed.  No  human 
being  in  this  generation  has  accomplished  such  a  work  or 
been  so  thoroughly  endorsed  or  so  completely  vindicated. 
It  is  marvellous  beyond  all  imagining  to  one  who  knew  of 


60     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

your  early  struggles.  I  have  been  solicited  by  many  of 
your  followers  to  say  something  about  the  early  history 
of  Christian  Science.  I  have  replied  that  if  Mrs.  Eddy 
thought  it  wise  to  instruct  them  on  the  subject  she  would 
doubtless  do  so. 

Possibly  you  may  remember  the  words  of  my  uncle,  the 
good  old  deacon  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of 
Lynn,  when  told  that  I  had  studied  with  you.  "  My  boy, 
you  will  be  ruined  for  life;  it  is  the  work  of  the  devil." 
He  only  expressed  the  thought  of  all  the  Christian  (?) 
people  at  that  time.  What  a  change  in  the  Christian 
world!  "The  stone  which  the  builders  rejected"  has 
become  the  corner-stone  of  this  wonderful  temple  of 
"wisdom.  Truth,  and  Love."  (Science  and  Health,  p. 
495.)  I  have  yet  the  little  Bible  which  you  gave  me 
as  a  reward  for  the  best  paper  on  the  spiritual  sig- 
nificance of  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis.  It  has  this 
inscription  on  the  fly-leaf  in  your  handwriting,  "With 
all  thy  getting  get  understanding." 

Respectfully  and  faithfully  yours, 

S.  P.  Bancroft. 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  June  12,  1906. 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 

Dear  Leader  and  Guide:  —  Now  that  the  great  event, 
the  dedication  of  our  new  church  building,  is  over,  may 
I  ask  a  little  of  your  time  to  tell  you  of  the  interesting 
part  I  had  to  perform  in  this  wonderful  consummation. 
On  the  twenty-fifth  of  last  March  I. was  asked  by  one 
of  the  Directors  if  I  would  cafe  to  do  a  little  watching 


LETTERS  AND  EDITORIAL  61 

at  the  church.  I  gladly  answered  in  the  aflfirmative,  and 
have  been  in  the  building  part  of  every  night  since  that 
time.  To  watch  the  transformation  has  been  very  in- 
teresting indeed,  and  the  lessons  I  have  learned  of  the 
power  of  divine  ]Mind  to  remove  human  obstructions 
have  been  very  precious.  At  first  I  thought  that,  since 
it  seemed  impossible  for  the  building  to  be  completed 
before  the  end  of  summer,  the  communion  would  likely 
be  postponed  until  that  time.  Then  came  the  announce- 
ment that  the  services  would  be  held  in  the  new  exten- 
sion on  June  10.  I  saw  at  once  that  somebody  had  to 
wake  up.  I  fought  hard  with  the  evidence  of  mortal 
sense  for  a  time;  but  after  a  while,  in  the  night,  as 
I  was  climbing  over  stones  and  planks  and  plaster, 
I  raised  my  eyes,  and  the  conviction  that  the  work 
would  be  accomplished  came  to  me  so  clearly,  I  said 
aloud,  "Why,  there  is  no  fear;  this  house  will  be  ready 
for  the  service,  Jiine  10."  I  bowed  my  head  before 
the  might  of  divine  Love,  and  never  more  did  I  have 
any  doubt. 

One  feature  about  the  work  interested  me.  I  noticed 
that  as  soon  as  the  workmen  began  to  admit  that  the  work 
could  be  done,  everything  seemed  to  move  as  by  magic; 
the  human  mind  was  giving  its  consent.  This  taught  me 
that  I  should  be  willing  to  let  God  work.  I  have  often 
stood  under  the  great  dome,  in  the  dark  stillness  of  the 
night,  and  thought,  "What  cannot  God  do?"  (Science 
and  Health,  p.  135.) 

As  I  discovered  the  many  intricate  problems  which  must 
necessarily  present  themselves  in  such  an  immense  under- 
taking, I  appreciated  as  never  before  the  faithful,  earnest 
work  of  our  noble  Board  of  Directors.    With  unflinching 


62     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

faith  and  unfailing  fidelity  they  have  stood  at  the  breast- 
works in  the  battle,  and  won  the  reward,  "Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servant;  .  .  .  enter  thou  into  the  joy 
of  thy  lord." 

But  what  of  this  magnificent  structure?  Whence  did  it 
come?  To  me  it  is  the  result  of  the  love  that  trembled 
in  one  human  heart  when  it  whispered :  "  Dear  God,  may 
I  not  take  this  precious  truth  and  give  it  to  my  brothers 
and  sisters?"  How  can  we  ever  thank  God  enough  for 
such  an  one,  —  ever  thank  you  enough  for  your  unselfed 
love.  May  the  glory  which  crowns  the  completion  of  this 
structure  shed  its  brightest  beams  on  your  pathway,  and 
fill  your  heart  with  the  joy  of  Love's  victory. 

Your  sincere  follower, 

James  J.  Rome. 

Boston,  Mass.,  June  30,  1906. 

Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H.    ^ 

Beloved  Leader  and  Teacher:  —  We,  the  Directors  of 
your  church,  send  you  loving  greetings  and  congratulations 
upon  the  completion  of  the  magnificent  extension  of  The 
Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  and  we  again  express 
our  thankful  appreciation  of  your  wise  counsel,  timely 
instruction,  and  words  of  encouragement  when  they  were 
so  much  needed. 

We  acknowledge  with  many  thanks  the  valuable  services 
rendered  to  this  Board  by  the  members  of  the  business 
committee,  who  were  ever  ready  to  assist  us  in  every  way 
possible;  also  the  services  of  other  members  of  the  church, 
who  gave  freely  of  their  time  and  efforts  when  there  was 
urgent  need  of  both. 


LETTERS  AND   EDITORIAL  63 

We  do  not  forget  that  it  was  through  you  we  were  en- 
abled to  secure  the  services  of  Mr.  Whitcomb  as  builder 
in  the  early  days  of  the  construction  of  the  church,  and  of 
Mr.  Beman  in  an  ad\'isory  capacity  in  the  later  days;  for 
this,  and  for  their  valuable  ser\aces,  we  are  grateful. 
Lovingly  and  gratefully  your  students, 

The  Christi.aj^  Science  Board  of  Directors, 
By  WiLLLAJ^i  B.  Johnson,  Secretary. 
Boston,  Mass.,  July  10,  1906. 

lEditorial  in  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  June  23.  1906] 
Our  annual  communion  and  the  dedication  of  the  exten- 
sion of  The  Mother  Church  are  over,  and  this  happy  and 
holy  experience  has  become  a  part  of  our  expanding  con- 
sciousness of  Truth,  to  abide  with  us  and  enable  us  better 
to  workout  the  purposes  of  divine  Love.  It  was  scarcely 
possible  to  repress  a  feeling  of  exultation  as  friend  met 
friend  at  every  turn  with  words  of  rejoicing;  and  even  the 
greetings  and  congratulations  of  those  not  of  our  faith 
seemed  to  say  that  all  the  world  was  in  some  degree  sharing 
in  our  joy.  But  within  our  sacred  edifice  there  came  a 
deeper  feeling,  a  feeling  of  awe  and  of  reverence  beyond 
words,  —  a  new  sense  of  the  magnitude  of  Christian 
Science,  this  revelation  of  divinity  which  has  come  to  the 
present  age.  Grandly  does  our  temple  s\'mbolize  this 
revelation,  in  its  purity,  stateliness,  and  vastness;  but 
even  more  impressive  than  this  was  the  presence  of  the 
thousands  who  had  come,  as  the  jMaster  predicted,  "  from 
the  east,  and  from  the  west,  and  from  the  north,  and 
from  the  south,"  to  tell  by  their  presence  that  they  had 
been  healed  by  Christ,  Truth,  and  had  found  the  kingdom 
of  God. 


64     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

As  one  thought  upon  the  significance  of  the  occasion, 
the  achievements  of  our  beloved  Leader  and  her  relation 
to  the  experiences  of  the  hour  took  on  a  larger  and  truer 
meaning.  The  glories  of  the  realm  of  infinite  Mind, 
revealed  to  us  through  her  spiritual  attainments  and  her 
years  of  toil,  encompassed  us,  and  hearts  were  thrilled 
with  tender  gratitude  and  love  for  all  that  she  has  done. 
If  to-day  we  feel  a  pardonable  pride  in  being  known  as 
Christian  Scientists,  it  is  because  our  Leader  has  made  the 
name  an  honored  one  before  the  world. 

In  her  dedicatory  Message  to  The  Mother  Church, 
Mrs.  Eddy  says,  "  The  First  Commandment  of  the  Hebrew 
Decalogue,  'Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me,' 
and  the  Golden  Rule  are  the  all-in-all  of  Christian  Science." 
In  all  her  writings,  through  all  the  years  of  her  leadership, 
she  has  been  teaching  her  followers  both  by  precept  and 
example  how  to  obey  this  commandment  and  rule,  and 
her  success  in  so  doing  is  what  constitutes  the  high  stand- 
ing of  Christian  Science  before  the  world.  Fearlessly  does 
she  warn  all  her  followers  against  the  indulgence  of  the 
sins  which  would  prevent  the  realization  of  ideal  manhood 
—  the  reign  of  the  Christ  —  and  now  it  is  ours  to  address 
ourselves  with  renewed  faith  and  love  to  the  high  and  holy 
task  of  overcoming  all  that  is  unlike  God,  and  thus  prove 
our  worthiness  to  be  "living  stones"  in  the  universal 
temple  of  Spirit,  and  worthy  members  of  The  Mother 
Church  before  men. 


APPENDIX  TO  PART   I 
AS  CHRONICLED  BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS 

[Boston  Journal,  June  19,  1902] 
AN  ASTONISHING  MOTION 

Assembled  in  the  largest  church  business  meeting  ever 
held  in  Boston  —  perhaps  the  largest  ever  held  in  the 
United  States  —  the  members  of  The  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  Boston,  The  Mother  Church  of  the  de- 
nomination, voted  yesterday  afternoon  to  raise  any  part 
of  two  million  dollars  that  might  be  needed  to  build 
in  this  city  a  church  edifice  capable  of  seating  between 
four  and  five  thousand  persons.  This  astonishing  motion 
was  passed  with  both  unanimity  and  assurance.  It  was 
not  even  talked  over,  beyond  two  brief  explanations  why 
the  building  was  needed.  Learning  that  a  big  church  was 
required,  the  money  to  provide  it  was  pledged  with  the 
readiness  and  despatch  of  an  ordinary  mortal  passing  out 
a  nickel  for  carfare. 

[Boston  Globe,  April,  1903] 
PROGRESSIVE  STEPS 

The  last  parcel  in  the  block  bounded  by  Falmouth, 
Norway,  and  St.  Paul  Streets,  in  the  shape  of  a  triangle, 
has  passed  to  the  ownership  of  the  Christian  Science 
church,  the  deed  being  taken  by  Ira  O.  Knapp  et  al., 

65 


66     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

trustees.  The  purchase  of  this  parcel,  which  is  known  as 
the  Hotel  Brookline,  a  four-story  brick  building  also  in  the 
shape  of  a  triangle,  gives  to  the  above  society  the  ownership 
of  the  entire  block. 

During  the  past  two  weeks  considerable  activity  has 
been  going  on  in  property  on  these  streets,  no  less  than 
ten  estates  having  been  conveyed  by  deed  to  the  Christian 
Science  church,  and  now  comes  the  purchase  of  the  last 
parcel  on  St.  Paul  Street  by  the  above  society,  which 
gives  them  the  ownership  of  the  entire  block. 

Just  what  use  the  society  will  make  of  the  property 
has  not  been  stated,  but  it  is  said  that  a  number  of  changes 
will  be  made  that  will  enable  the  church  to  expand,  and 
to  do  so  it  was  necessary  to  have  this  property.  No  block 
is  so  well  situated  for  church  purposes  as  this  one,  being 
in  a  fine  part  of  the  city. 

[Boston  Post,  June  6,  1906] 
THE   FINISHING  TOUCHES 

Artisans  and  artists  are  working  night  and  day  and 
craftsmen  are  hurrying  on  with  their  work  to  make  the 
spacious  and  elegant  edifice  complete  ior  the  elaborate 
observances  of  Sunday,  when  six  services  will  be  held, 
and  when  the  words  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy  will  come  from 
her  beautiful  home,  Pleasant  View,  in  Concord,  N.  H., 
welcoming  her  children  and  giving  her  blessing  to  the 
structure. 

The  services  of  Sunday  will  mark  an  epoch  in  the  history 
of  Christian  Science.  Since  the  discovery  by  Mrs.  Eddy, 
many  beautiful  houses  of  worship  have  been  erected,  but 
never  before  has  such  a  grand  church  been  built  as  that 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    67 

which  raises  its  dome  above  the  city  at  the  corner  of 
Falmouth  and  Norway  Streets. 


[Boston  Post] 
DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  EXTENSION 

Extension  of  The  Mother  Church 

Cost $2,000,000 

Shape,  triangular 220x220x236  ft. 

Height 224  ft. 

Area  of  site -. 40,000  sq.  ft. 

Seating  capacity 5,000 

Checking  facilities 3,000  garments 

Notable  Dates  in  Christian  Science 

Christian  Science  discovered 1866 

First  church  organized 1879 

First  church  erected    1894 

Corner-stone  of  cathedral  laid 1904 

Cathedral  to  be  dedicated 1906 

Two  million  dollars  was  set  aside  for  the  building  of  this 
addition  to  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  and  the 
money  was  used  in  giving  Boston  an  edifice  that  is  a 
marvel  of  architectural  beauty.  But  one  church  in  the 
country  exceeds  it  in  seating  capacity,  and,  while  vaster 
sums  of  money  were  spent  in  other  instances,  never  was 
a  more  artistic  effect  reached. 

This  new  temple,  begun  nearly  two  years  ago,  will  in 
its  simple  grandeur  surpass  any  church  edifice  erected 
in  this  city.  Notwithstanding  its  enormous  size,  it  is  so 
proportionately  built  that  its  massiveness  is  unnoticed 
in  the  graceful  outlines. 


68     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

Built  in  the  Italian  Renaissance  style,  the  interior  of 
this  church  is  carried  out  with  the  end  in  view  of  impressing 
the  audiences  with  the  beauty  and  strength  of  the  design. 
The  great  auditorium,  with  its  high-domed  ceiUng,  sup- 
ported on  four  arches  springing  from  the  tops  of  great 
stone  piers,  contains  about  one  mile  and  a  half  of  pews. 

The  dome  surmounting  the  building  is  more  than  twice 
the  size  of  the  dome  on  the  State -House,  having  a  diameter 
of  eighty-two  feet  and  a  height  of  fifty-one  feet. 

The  top  of  the  dome  is  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet 
above  the  street,  and  reaches  an  altitude  twenty-nine  feet 
higher  than  that  of  the  State  House. 

The  old  church  at  the  corner  of  Falmouth  and  Norway 
Streets,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  twelve  hundred,  built 
twelve  years  ago,  will  remain  as  it  was,  and  Mrs.  Eddy's 
famous  room  will  be  undisturbed. 

The  Readers'  platform  is  of  a  beautiful  foreign  marble, 
and  the  color  scheme  for  all  the  auditorium  is  of  a  warm 
gray,  to  harmonize  with  the  Bedford  stone  which  enters 
so  largely  into  the  interior  finish. 

The  great  organ  is  placed  back  of  the  Readers'  platform 
and  above  the  Readers'  special  rooms.  It  has  an  archi- 
tectural stone  screen  and  contributes  not  a  little  to  the 
imposing  effect  of  the  interior. 

Bedford  stone  and  marble  form  the  interior  finish,  with 
elaborate  plaster  work  for  the  great  arches  and  ceilings. 
The  floors  of  the  first  story  are  of  marble. 

There  are  twelve  exits  and  seven  broad  marble  stair- 
ways, the  latter  framed  of  iron  and  finished  with  bronze, 
marble,  and  Bedford  stone. 

Bronze  is  used  in  the  lighting  fixtures,  and  the  pews  and 
principal  woodwork  are  of  mahogany. 


AS  CHRONICLED  BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    69 

The  church  is  unusually  well  lighted,  and  one  of  the 
extraordinary  features  is  the  eight  bronze  chains,  each 
suspending  seventy-two  lamps,  each  lamp  of  thirty-two 
candle-power. 

WTiere  ceiling  or  roof  and  side  walls  come  together  no 
sharp  angles  are  visible,  such  meetings  presenting  an  oval 
and  dome  appearance  and  forming  a  gently  curved  and 
panelled  surface,  whereon  are  placed  inscriptions  illustra- 
tive of  the  faith  of  Christian  Science. 

Two  large  marble  plates  with  Scripture  quotations  are 
also  placed  on  the  two  sides  of  the  organ. 

Everywhere  within  the  building  where  conditions  per- 
mitted it  pure  white  marble  was  used,  and  the  hammer 
and  chisel  of  the  sculptor  added  magnificent  carvings  to 
the  rich  beauty  of  the  interior. 

The  auditorium  contains  seven  galleries,  two  on  either 
side  and  three  at  the  back,  yet  not  a  single  pillar  or  post 
anywhere  in  the  vast  space  interrupts  the  view  of  the 
platform  from  any  seat. 

Another  unusual  feature  is  the  foyer,  where  five  thousand 
people  can  freely  move.  Adjoining  this  foyer  are  the 
Sunday  School  and  the  administration  offices,  while  in 
the  basement  is  a  cloak-room  of  the  capacity  of  three 
thousand  wraps. 

[Boston  Globe] 

AN  IDEA  OF  THE  SIZE 

If  one  would  get  an  idea  of  the  size  of  this  building  and 
the  manner  in  which  the  dome  seems  to  dominate  the 
entire  city,  the  best  point  of  view  is  on  top  of  the  tower 
in  Mt.  Auburn  cemetery  in  Cambridge,  some  four  miles 
away.    From  this  point  the  building  and  dome  can  be  seen 


70     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

in  their  relation  to  the  city  itself,  and  it  certainly  looks 
imposing. 

One  thing  is  certain:  for  a  religion  which  has  been 
organized  only  thirty  years,  and  which  erected  its  first 
church  only  twelve  years  ago,  Christian  Science  has  more 
fine  church  edifices  to  its  credit  in  the  same  time  than 
any  other  denomination  in  the  world,  and  they  are  all 
paid  for. 

[Boston  Evening  Transcript] 

THE   CHIMES 

The  chimes  for  the  new  Christian  Science  temple  are 
worthy  of  the  dome.  The  effect  on  all  within  earshot  is 
quite  remarkable.  They  say  that  workingmen  stopped 
in  the  street  and  stood  in  silent  admiration  while  the 
chimes  were  being  tested  the  other  day.  Millet's 
"Angelus"  had  living  reproductions  on  every  corner  in 
the  neighborhood. 

[Boston  Post] 

MAGNIFICENCE   OF  THE   ORGAN 

The  new  church  is  replete  with  rare  bits  of  art,  chosen 
from  the  works  of  both  ancient  and  modern  masters,  but 
there  is  nothing  more  wonderful  than  the  organ  which 
has  been  installed.  Nowhere  in  the  world  is  there  a  more 
beautiful,  more  musical,  or  more  capable  instrument. 
In  reality  it  is  a  combination  of  six  organs,  with  four 
manuals,  seventy-two  stops,  nineteen  couplers,  nineteen 
adjustable  combination  pistons,  three  balanced  swells, 
a  grand  crescendo  pedal,  seven  combination  pedals,  and 
forty-five  hundred  and  thirty-eight  pipes,  the  largest  of 
which  is  thirty-two  feet  long.     Attached  to  the  organ  is 


AS  CHRONICLED  BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    71 

a  set  of  cathedral  chimes,  stationed  in  one  of  the  towers, 
and  some  of  the  most  intricate  discoveries  of  organ 
builders  enable  the  organist  to  produce  the  most  beautiful 
effects  by  means  of  the  bells.  There  is  also  a  solo  organ 
attached. 

[Boston  Journal] 

ITS  ARCHITECTURE 

There  is  no  need  of  fussing  about  the  underlying  spirit 
that  built  the  Christian  Science  cathedral.  We  can  all 
agree  that  it  is  a  stunning  piece  of  architecture  and  a 
great  adornment  to  the  city. 

[Boston  Globe] 
UNIQUE  INTERIOR 

WTien  these  people  enter  this  new  cathedral  or  temple 
which  has  been  in  process  of  construction,  they  will  find 
themselves  in  one  of  the  most  imposing  church  edifices 
in  the  country  —  yes,  in  the  world.  For  in  its  interior 
architecture  it  is  different  from  any  other  church  in  the 
world.  In  fact,  nearly  all  the  traditions  of  church  interior 
architecture  have  been  set  aside  in  this  temple,  for  here 
are  neither  nave,  aisles,  nor  transept  —  just  one  vast  audi- 
torium which  will  seat  exactly  five  thousand  and  twelve 
people  on  floor  and  galleries,  and  seat  them  comfort- 
ably. And  what  is  more,  every  person  seated  in  the 
auditorium,  either  on  floor  or  galleries,  can  see  and  hear 
the  two  Readers  who  conduct  the  services  on  the  platform 
in  front  of  the  great  organ. 

This  was  the  aim  and  object  of  the  architect:  to  con- 
struct an  auditorium  that  would  seat  five  thousand  people, 
each  of  whom  could  see  the  Readers,  and  with  such  nicely 


72     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

adjusted  acoustic  properties  that  each  person  could  hear 
what  was  said.  To  do  this  it  was  necessary  to  set  aside 
the  traditions  of  interior  church  architecture. 

[Boston  Post] 
GATES  OF  BOSTON  OPEN 

The  gates  of  Boston  are  open  wide  in  welcome  to 
nobility.  Never  before  has  the  city  been  more  fre- 
quented by  members  of  the  titled  aristocracy  of  the 
old  world  than  it  is  now.  From  all  the  centres  of  Europe 
there  are  streaming  into  town  lords  and  ladies  who 
come  to  attend  the  dedication  of  the  new  church  for 
Christian  Scientists. 

[Boston  Globe] 
CHRISTIAN   SCIENTISTS   HAVE   ALL  THE   MONEY  NEEDED 

"  Please  do  not  send  us  any  more  money  —  we  have 
enough!" 

Briefly  that  is  the  notice  which  Stephen  A.  Chase, 
treasurer  of  the  building  fund  of  the  new  Christian  Sci- 
ence temple,  sent  forth  to  the  thirty  thousand  or  more 
Christian  Scientists  who  have  come  to  Boston  to  attend 
the  dedication  exercises,  and  also  through  the  Chris- 
tian Science  Sentinel  to  members  of  the  church  all  over 
the  world. 

This  means  that  nearly  two  million  dollars  has 
been  subscribed  for  the  new  building,  and  that  every 
cent  of  it  was  paid  in  before  the  work  was  actually 
completed. 

That  is  the  way  the  Christian  Scientists  began  when 
they  erected  the  first  church  in  Boston  twelve  years  ago 


AS  CHRONICLED  BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    73 

— The  Mother  Church.  Then  it  was  found  necessary 
to  issue  a  similar  notice  or  order,  and  even  to  return 
more  than  ten  thousand  dollars  which  had  been  over- 
subscribed. They  have  erected  dozens  of  churches  all 
over  this  country  and  in  other  countries  since  that  time, 
but  it  is  claimed  that  very  few  of  them  owe  a  cent. 

If  you  ask  a  Christian  Scientist  how  they  do  it,  the 
reply  will  be  in  the  form  of  a  quotation  from  Science 
and  Health  (p.  494),  "Divine  Love  always  has  met  and 
always  will  meet  every  human  need." 

[Boston  Globe] 
THE  GREAT  GATHERING 

Christian  Scientists  are  flocking  from  all  over  the 
world  to  Boston  to-day,  as  they  have  been  for  several 
days  past  and  will  be  for  several  days  to  come,  to  attend 
the  June  meetings  of  The  Mother  Church  and  the -dedica- 
tion of  the  new  temple. 

The  headquarters  was  thrown  open  to  visitors  this 
forenoon  in  Horticultural  Hall,  comer  of  Huntington 
and  Massachusetts  Avenues.  It  is  in  charge  of  G.  D. 
Robertson,  and  here  the  visitors  will  receive  all  information 
concerning  rooms  and  board,  hotels,  railroads,  etc.  There 
is  here  also  a  post-office  to  which  all  mail  may  be  directed, 
and  telegraph  and  telephone  service. 

[Boston  Evening  Transcript] 
SPECIAL  TR-UNS  COMING 

Special  trains  and  extra  sections  of  trains  are  due  to 
arrive  in  Boston  to-night,  bearing  the  first  instalments  of 
the  crowds  of  Christian  Scientists  from  the  central  and 


74     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

western  sections  of  this  country.  Those  from  abroad 
and  from  the  far  West  to  a  large  degree  are  already  in 
Boston.  From  now  until  Saturday  night  the  inrush  will 
be  from  the  sections  within  two  or  three  days'  ride,  and 
no  doubt  the  night  trains  of  Saturday  will  bring  con- 
siderable numbers  of  belated  church  members  from  New 
York  and  elsewhere  who  will  arrive  in  this  city  just  about 
in  time  for  the  first  Sunday  service. 

[Boston  Evening  Transcript] 
INTERESTING  AND  AGREEABLE  VISITORS 

The  Christian  Scientists  are  here  in  force,  and  they  are 
very  interesting  and  agreeable  visitors,  even  to  those  who 
are  unable  to  accompany  them  in  their  triumph  of  mind 
over  matter.  Boston  is  indebted  to  them  for  one  of  the 
finest  architectural  achievements  in  this  or  any  other  city, 
and  other  denominations  might  profit  by  their  example  of 
paying  for  their  church  before  dedicating  it.  It  is  a  monu- 
ment to  the  sincerity  of  their  faith;  and  the  pride  and 
satisfaction  that  is  not  only  evident  from  their  addresses 
but  reflected  in  their  faces,  is  justifiable.  They  are  an 
intelligent  and  a  happy  appearing  body,  and  even  if  those 
outside  are  unable  to  believe  that  they  have  escaped  from 
the  bondage  of  the  material  world,  it  would  be  idle  to 
attempt  to  deny  them  the  satisfaction  that  springs  from 
a  belief  in  such  emancipation.  Our  present  relations  with 
them  are  as  the  guests  of  the  city,  and  as  such  they  are 
welcome. 

Within  two  weeks  we  have  had  here  the  representatives 
of  the  two  poles  of  healing,  the  material  and  the  mental, 
and  each  is  interesting,  one  for  its  hopefulness  and  the 
other  for  its  novelty.    Whatever  opinions  we  may  enter- 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    75 

tain  of  the  value  of  the  latter,  we  cannot  well  withhold 
our  respectful  acknowledgment  of  its  enthusiasm,  its 
energy,  and  its  faith  in  its  fundamentals.  Its  votaries 
are  certainly  holding  the  centre  of  the  stage  this  week. 

[Boston  Globe] 
READILY  ACCOMMODATED 

Yesterday  was  a  busy  day  at  the  headquarters  of  the 
Christian  Scientists  in  Horticultural  Hall.  They  poured 
into  the  city  from  every  direction  and  most  of  them 
headed  straight  for  Horticultural  Hall,  where  they  were 
assigned  rooms  in  hotels  or  lodging-houses,  if  they  had 
not  already  been  provided  for.  So  perfect  have  been  all 
the  preliminary  arrangements  for  the  handling  of  a  great 
number  of  visitors  that  there  has  not  been  the  slightest 
hitch  in  the  matter  of  securing  accommodations.  And 
if  there  was  it  would  not  make  much  difference,  for  these 
people  would  take  it  all  very  good-naturedly.  They 
do  not  get  excited  over  trifles.  They  are  very  patient  and 
good-natured.  Crowded  as  the  hall  was  yesterday,  and 
warm  as  the  day  was,  there  was  not  the  slightest  evidence 
of  temper,  no  matter  how  far  they  had  travelled  or  what 
discomforts  they  might  have  endured  in  their  travels. 

[Boston  Evening  Transcript] 
BIG  CHURCH  IS  PAID  FOR 

According  to  the  custom  of  the  Christian  Scientists,  the 
big  addition  to  The  Mother  Church  will  be  dedicated 
to-morrow  free  from  debt.  No  church  has  ever  yet  been 
dedicated  by  this  denomination  with  any  part  of  the 
expense  of  its  construction  remaining  unprovided  for,  and 


76     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

it  went  without  saving  th^  the  same  practice  would  be 
followed  with  this  new  two-miUion-dollar  edifice,  the 
largest  of  them  all.  Up  to  within  ten  days  the  notices 
that  more  money  was  needed  had  been  in  circulation, 
and  new  contributions  were  constantly  being  received; 
but  on  June  2  it  became  e\'ident  to  the  Board  of  Direct- 
ors that  enough  money  was  on  hand  to  provide  for  the 
entire  cost  of  the  building,  and  the  formal  announcement 
was  made  that  no  more  contributions  to  the  building  fund 
were  needed.  That  it  was  received  with  rejoicing  by  the 
thousands  of  church  members  and  their  friends  only  feebly 
expresses  the  gratification. 

A  similar  decision  was  reached  and  published  at  the 
time  of  the  dedication  of  The  IVIother  Church  in  1895,  all 
of  which  goes  to  show  the  earnestness  and  loyalty  which 
Christian  Scientists  manifest  in  the  support  of  their 
church  work,  and  which  enables  them  to  dedicate  their 
churches  free  of  debt  without  exception.  The  estimated 
cost  of  the  extension  of  The  Mother  Church  was  pledged 
by  the  members  assembled  in  their  annual  church  meeting 
in  Boston,  in  1902,  and  all  contributions  have  been 
volimtarj^ 

[New  York  Herald] 
GIANT  TEMPLE  FOR  SCIENTISTS 

There  will  be  dedicated  in  Boston  to-morrow  the 
first  great  monument  to  Christian  Science,  the  new  two- 
million-dollar  cathedral  erected  by  the  devotees  of  a 
religion  which  twenty-seven  years  ago  was  founded  in 
Boston  by  Mrs.  ]\Iary  Baker  Eddy  with  a  membership 
of  twenty-six  persons. 

The  new  structure,  which  is  now  completed,  has  for 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    77 

months  been  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes  because  of  its  great 
size,  beautiful  architecture,  and  the  novelty  of  the  cult 
which  it  represents.  This  temple  is  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  world.  It  has  a  seating  capacity  of  over  five  thousand. 
In  this  respect  it  leads  the  Auditorium  of  Chicago.  Be- 
side it  the  dome  of  the  ]Massachusetts  State  House,  which 
is  the  leading  landmark  of  Boston,  pales  into  insignificance, 
as  its  dimensions  are  only  half  as  great. 

From  all  over  the  world  Christian  Scientists  are  rapidly 
gathering  in  this  city  to  participate  in  the  most  notable 
feature  in  the  life  of  their  ciilt.  From  beyond  the  Rockies, 
from  Canada,  from  Great  Britain,  and  practically  every 
civilized  country,  daily  trainloads  of  pilgrims  are  pouring 
into  Boston,  and  it  is  estimated  that  not  less  than  twenty- 
five  thousand  visitors  will  participate  in  the  dedication. 

[New  York  World] 
DEDICATION  DAY 

Over  the  heads  of  a  multitude  which  began  to  gather  at 
daybreak  and  which  filled  the  streets  leading  to  the  mag- 
nificent temple  of  the  Christian  Science  church,  there 
pealed  from  the  chimes  a  first  hymn  of  thanksgiving  at 
six  o'clock  this  morning.  It  was  dedication  day,  and 
Christian  Scientists  from  all  quarters  of  the  globe  were 
present  to  participate  in  the  occasion. 

It  was  estimated  that  nearly  forty  thousand  believers 
had  gathered  in  Boston.  Word  was  conveyed  to  them  that 
the  temple  would  open  its  doors  absolutely  free  of  debt, 
every  penny  of  the  two  million  dollars  required  to  build 
the  imposing  edifice  in  the  Back  Bay  district  having 
been  secured  by  voluntary  subscription. 


78     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  temple  is  five  thousand, 
and  in  order  that  all  might  participate  in  the  dedication, 
six  services,  identical  in  character,  were  held  during  the 
morning,  afternoon,  and  evening. 

The  worshippers  saw  an  imposing  structure  of  gray 
stone  with  a  massive  dome  rising  to  a  height  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-four  feet  and  visible  from  every 
quarter  of  the  city.  The  multitude  passed  through  the 
twelve  entrances  beneath  a  series  of  arches  in  the  sev- 
eral facades.  They  looked  upon  an  interior  done  in  soft 
gray  with  decorative  carvings  peculiarly  rich  and  im- 
pressive. The  seating  is  accomplished  in  a  semi-circular 
sweep  of  mahogany  pews  and  in  triple  galleries. 

The  offertory  taken  at  the  beginning  of  the  services 
found  every  basket  piled  high  with  bank-notes,  everybody 
contributing,  and  none  proffering  small  change. 

At  the  close  of  the  Lesson-Sermon,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  custom  of  the  Christian  Science  church,  the 
entire  congregation  knelt  in  silent  communion,  followed 
by  the  audible  repetition  of  the  Lord's  Prayer.  One  of 
the  remarkable  features  of  the  services  was  the  congre- 
gation singing  in  perfect  unison.  The  acoustic  properties 
of  the  temple,  in  spite  of  its  vast  interior,  were  found  to 
be  perfect. 

[Boston  Globe] 

children's  service 

No  mere  words  can  convey  the  peculiar  impressiveness 
of  the  half  past  twelve  service;  the  little  children,  awed  by 
the  grandeur  of  the  great  room  in  which  they  were  seated, 
drinking  in  every  word  of  the  exercises  and  apparently 
understanding  all  they  heard,  joining  with  their  shrill 


AS  CHRONICLED  BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    79 

voices  in  the  singing  and  responsive  reading,  and  then,  at 
the  last,  kneeling  for  silent  communion  before  the  pews,  in 
absolute  stillness,  their  eyes  closed  and  their  solemn  Uttle 
faces  turned  upward. 

[Norfolk  (Neb.)  Tribune] 
ON  A   FAR  HIGHER  PEDESTAL 

To  those  who  seem  to  see  no  good  in  Christian  Science, 
it  must  stagger  their  faith  not  a  little  to  read  the  account 
of  the  dedication  of  the  vast  temple  located  in  the  heart 
of  the  city  of  Boston,  the  supposed  fountain  of  knowledge 
and  seat  of  learning  of  America;  the  spectacle  of  thirty 
thousand  people  assembUng  to  gain  admission  to  the 
temple  shows  an  enthusiasm  for  Christian  Science  seldom 
witnessed  anyA;\^here  in  the  world  on  any  occasion;  and 
this  occurred  in  staid  old  Boston,  and  the  fact  was  heralded 
in  flaming  headlines  in  the  leading  newspapers  of  the 
world.  According  to  the  despatches,  that  assembly  was 
not  a  gathering  of  "the  vulgar  throng;"  the  intelligence 
and  A^isdom  of  the  country  were  there.  There  certainly 
must  be  something  more  than  a  fad  in  Christian  Science, 
which  was  placed  upon  a  far  higher  pedestal  by  that 
demonstration  than  it  ever  occupied  before. 

[Boston  Herald] 
THE  WEDNESDAY  EVENING  MEETINGS 

Quietly,  without  a  trace  of  fanaticism,  making  their 
remarkable  statements  with  a  simplicity  which  sprang 
from  the  conviction  that  they  would  be  believed,  scores  of 
Christian  Scientists  told  of  cures  from  diseases,  physical 
and  mental,  at  the  testimony  meetings  that  marked  the 


80     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

close  of  their  visit  to  Boston;  cures  that  carried  one  back 
to  the  age  of  miracles.  To  hear  prosperous,  contented 
men  and  women,  people  of  substance  and  of  standing, 
earnestly  assure  thousands  of  auditors  that  they  had  been 
cured  of  blindness,  of  consumption  in  its  advanced  stages, 
of  heart  disease,  of  cancer;  that  they  had  felt  no  pain 
when  having  broken  bones  set;  that  when  wasted  unto 
death  they  had  been  made  whole,  constituted  a  severe  tax 
upon  frail  human  credulity,  yet  they  were  believed. 

Meetings  were  held  in  the  extension  of  The  Mother 
Church,  in  the  extension  vestry,  in  the  old  auditorium 
of  The  Mother  Church,  in  The  Mother  Church  vestry. 
Horticultural  Hall  (Exhibition  Hall),  Horticultural  Hall 
(Lecture  Hall),  Jordan  Hall,  Potter  Hall,  Howe  and 
Woolson  Halls,  Chickering  Hall. 

At  each  of  the  meetings  the  introductory  services  were 
identical,  consisting  of  hymns,  an  appropriate  reading 
from  the  Bible,  and  selections  from  "Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures"  by  Mrs.  Mary  Baker 
Eddy. 

Fifteen  thousand  Scientists  crowded  into  the  auditorium 
of  the  extension  of  The  Mother  Church,  into  the  old 
church,  into  Horticultural  Hall,  Jordan  Hall,  Potter  Hall, 
Woolson  Hall,  and  Chickering  Hall,  and  it  took  ten 
meetings  to  accommodate  the  great  throngs  who  wanted 
to  give  testimony  or  who  wanted  to  hear  it.  And  when 
these  places  had  all  been  filled,  there  were  many  hundreds 
waiting  vainly  in  the  streets.  A  few  were  upon  the  scene 
as  early  as  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  to  secure  seats 
in  the  main  body  of  the  church,  where  the  largest  meeting 
was  held,  and  long  before  seven  the  auditorium  was  com- 
fortably filled. 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    81 

Upon  entering  The  Mother  Church  one  was  immediately 
struck  with  the  air  of  well-being  and  of  prosperity  of  the 
great  congregation.  The  Scientists  fairly  radiate  good 
nature  and  healthy  satisfaction  with  life.  No  pessimistic 
faces  there !  So  ingrained  is  this  good  nature,  so  complete 
this  self-abnegation,  that  at  the  very  height  of  fervor,  when 
bursting  with  a  desire  to  testify  to  the  benefits  and  the 
healing  power  of  the  faith,  one  of  them  would  pause  and 
laughingly  give  precedence  to  another  who  had  been  the 
first  to  catch  the  Reader's  eye. 

When  Mr.  IMcCrackan  announced  at  the  main  meet- 
ing that  they  were  ready  to  receive  testimony,  up 
leaped  half  a  dozen  Scientists.  They  had  been  told  to 
name,  before  beginning,  the  places  where  they  lived. 
"Indianapolis!"  "Des  Moines!"  "Glasgow!"  "Cuba!" 
"Dresden!"  "Peoria!"  they  cried.  No  more  cosmo- 
politan audience  ever  sat  in  Boston. 

Those  who  poured  out  their  debts  of  gratitude  for  ills 
cured,  for  hearts  lifted  up,  spoke  simply  and  gratefully, 
but  occasionally  the  voices  would  ring  out  in  a  way  there 
was  no  mistaking.  In  those  people  was  the  depth  of 
sincerity,  and,  when  they  sang,  the  volume  of  holy  song 
rose  tingling  to  the  great  dome,  swelling  as  one  voice. 
It  was  a  practical  demonstration  of  the  Scientist  claims, 
a  fitting  close  to  a  memorable  week. 

If  an  attempt  were  made  to  give  any  account  of  the 
marvellous  cures  narrated  at  the  meetings  of  the  Scien- 
tists, or  wherever  two  or  more  of  them  are  met  together, 
it  would  be  impossible  to  convey  a  conception  of  the 
fervor  of  belief  with  which  each  tells  his  or  her  experi- 
ence. These  are  tales  of  people  of  standing  and  of 
substance,  professional  men,  hard-headed  shrewd  busi- 


82     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

ness  men.  Yet  they  all  have  the  same  stories  of  their 
conversion,  either  through  a  cure  to  themselves  or  to 
one  near  and  dear  to  them. 


[Boston  Herald] 
EXODUS  BEGINS 

For  a  while  this  morning  it  looked  as  though  all  the 
Christian  Scientists  who  have  been  crowding  Boston 
the  last  week  were  trying  to  get  away  at  the  same 
time.  Hotels,  boarding-houses,  and  private  houses 
were  disgorging  trunks  and  smaller  articles  of  baggage 
so  fast  that  it  was  a  matter  of  wonder  where  there 
could  be  secured  express  wagons  enough  to  accommo- 
date the  demand. 

At  the  dedicatory  services  of  The  Mother  Church 
extension  on  Sunday,  and  at  the  sessions  of  the  annual 
meeting,  Tuesday,  it  was  the  pride  of  the  Church  Direct- 
ors that  the  edifice  was  emptied  of  its  crowds  in  some- 
thing like  ten  minutes.  It  would  seem  that  this  ability 
to  get  away  when  the  entertainment  is  over  is  a  dis- 
tinguishing characteristic  of  Christian  Scientists,  for  at 
noon  to-day  [June  14]  the  indications  were  that  Boston 
would  be  emptied  of  its  twenty  thousand  and  more  vis- 
itors by  midnight  to-night. 

Transportation  facilities  at  the  two  stations  were  taxed 
to  the  utmost  from  early  morning,  and  trains  pulled  out 
of  the  city  in  double  sections. 

Although  the  Scientists  came  to  Boston  in  such  numbers 
and  are  departing  with  such  remarkable  expedition,  their 
going  will  not  be  noticeable  to  the  residents  of  Boston, 
except  perhaps  those  living  in  the  streets  leading  directly 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    83 

to  Horticultural  Hall.  This  fact  will  be  due  to  the 
custom  Christian  Scientists  have  of  never  going  about 
labelled.  Ordinarily  the  holding  of  a  great  convention 
is  patent  to  every  one  residing  in  the  convention  city. 
Up  at  Horticultural  Hall  the  one  hundred  and  fifty 
members  of  the  local  arrangement  committee  wore  tiny 
white,  unmarked  buttons,  for  their  own  self-identification, 
otherwise  there  has  been  no  flaunting  of  badges  or 
insignia  of  any  kind.  Christian  Scientists  frequently 
wear  a  small  pin,  but  this  is  usually  hidden  away  in 
the  laces  of  the  women's  frocks,  and  the  men  go 
entirely  unadorned. 

Therefore,  with  the  exception  of  the  street-car  men 
and  policemen,  who  will  doubtless  have  fewer  questions 
as  to  locality  to  answer,  and  the  hotel  and  restaurant 
keepers,  who  will  have  time  to  rest  and  sleep,  the  pub- 
lic at  large  will^  scarcely  realize  that  the  Scientists  have 
gone. 

WHAT  THE  BOSTON  EDITORS  SAID 

[Boston  Daily  Advertiser] 

The  meeting  of  the  Christian  Scientists  in  this  city 
naturally  takes  on  a  tone  of  deserved  satisfaction,  in  view 
of  the  announcement,  which  has  just  been  made,  that  the 
two  million  dollars  needed  for  the  construction  of  the  new 
temple  has  been  raised  even  before  the  building  itself  has 
been  completed. 

The  thirty  thousand  visitors  have  other  evidences  of 
the  strength  and  growi;h  of  their  organization,  which  has 
made  steady  gains  in  recent  years.  But  of  this  particu- 
lar example  of  the  readiness  of  the  members  to  bear 
each  his  or  her  share  of  the  necessary  expense  of  church 


84     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

work,  the  facts  speak  more  plainly  than  mere  assertion 
could.  Nothing  is  more  of  a  drag  on  a  chm-ch  than  a 
heavy  debt,  the  interest  on  which  calls  for  practically  all 
the  resources  of  the  institution.  Many  a  clergyman  can 
testify  from  his  own  experience  how  a  "church  debt" 
cramps  and  retards  and  holds  back  work  that  would 
otherwise  be  done.  It  is  a  rule  in  some  denominations 
that  a  church  edifice  may  not  be  formally  dedicated  until 
it  be  wholly  free  from  debt.  And  the  experience  of  many 
generations  has  aflSrmed  its  wisdom. 

[Boston  Herald] 

Boston  is  the  Mecca  for  Christian  Scientists  all  over  the 
world.  The  new  temple  is  something  to  be  proud  of.  Its 
stately  cupola  is  a  fitting  crown  for  the  other  architec- 
tural efforts  in  that  section  of  the  Back  Bay. 

[Boston  Evening  Record] 

Boston  is  near  to  another  great  demonstration  of  the 
growth  of  the  Christian  Science  idea  in  numbers,  wealth, 
vigor,  and  faithful  adherence.  It  is  a  remarkable  story 
which  the  gathering  here  tells.  Its  very  magnitude  and 
the  cheerful  optimism  and  energy  of  its  followers  im- 
press even  the  man  who  cannot  reconcile  himself  to 
the  methods  and  tenets  of  the  sect.  Its  hold  and 
development  are  most  notable. 

[Boston  Post] 

The  gathering  of  Christian  Scientists  for  the  dedication 
of  the  beautiful  structure  on  Falmouth  Street,  which  is 
to  take  place  on  Sunday,  is  notable  in  many  ways.    It 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    85 

is  remarkable  in  the  character  of  the  assembling  mem- 
bership, in  its  widely  international  range,  and  in  the 
significance  of  the  occasion. 

The  growth  of  this  cult  is  the  marvel  of  the  age.  Thirty 
years  ago  it  was  comparatively  miknown;  one  chm-ch 
and  a  mere  handful  of  members  measured  its  vogue. 
To-day  its  adherents  number  probably  a  million,  its 
churches  have  risen  by  hundreds,  and  its  congregations 
meet  in  Europe  and  in  the  antipodes,  as  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific  on  this  continent. 

One  does  not  need  to  accept  the  doctrines  of  Mrs. 
Eddy  to  recognize  the  fact  that  this  wonderful  woman 
is  a  worid  power.  This  is  conclusive;  it  is  conspicu- 
ously manifest.  And  here  in  Boston  the  zeal  and 
enthusiasm  of  the  followers  of  this  creed  have  been 
manifested  in  the  building  of  a  church  structure  which 
will  hold  place  among  the  architectural  beauties  of  the 
country. 

[Boston  Herald] 

Another  glory  for  Boston,  another  "landmark"  set 
in  the  illustrious  fist  for  future  generations  to  reverence 
and  admire!  The  Science  church  has  become  the  great 
centre  of  attraction,  not  merely  for  its  thousands  of  wor- 
shippers, but  for  a  multitude  of  strangers  to  whom  this 
historic  city  is  the  Mecca  of  their  love  and  duty.  Last 
Sunday  it  was  entirely  credible  that  the  spirit  of  faith 
and  brotherhood  rested  on  this  structure,  which  is  abso- 
lutely unique  in  its  symmetrical  and  appropriate  design. 
Aside  from  every  other  consideration,  this  church,  with 
its  noble  dome  of  pure  gray  tint,  forming  one  of  the 
few  perfect  sky-lines  in   an   American   city,  is  doubly 


86      THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

welcomed.  Henceforth  the  greeting  of  admiring  eyes, 
too  often  unaccustomed  to  fine  architectural  effects,  will 
be  constant  and  sincere. 

As  Boston  has  ever  loved  its  golden  State  House 
dome,  so  will  it  now  find  pleasure  in  this  new  symbol, 
brooding  elevation,  guarding  as  it  were,  embracing  as  it 
may  be,  the  hosts  of  a  new  reUgion. 

[Boston  Globe] 

Thousands  of  Christian  Scientists  have  been  pouring 
into  Boston  in  the  past  few  days  to  be  present  at  the 
dedication  yesterday  of  their  new  two-million-dollar 
church,  and  to  take  part  in  the  subsequent  ceremonies  and 
exercises.  Not  only  was  every  cent  of  the  estimated  cost 
contributed  before  the  actual  work  was  completed,  but 
the  treasurer  of  the  building  fund  of  the  great  temple 
appealed  to  his  brethren  to  give  no  more  money,  since  he 
had  enough.  This  must  be  regarded  as  an  extraordinary 
achievement,  and  one  which  indicates  plainly  enough  the 
generosity  of  the  devotion  that  the  Christian  Scientists 
maintain  towards  their  church. 

[Boston  Post] 

The  dedication  of  the  edifice  of  the  Christian  Scientists 
on  the  Back  Bay  has  prbved  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing and  in  some  of  its  aspects  the  most  notable  of  such 
occasions. 

The  attendance  at  the  ceremonies  yesterday  was  re- 
markable, probably  unprecedented,  as  regards  numbers. 
Not  even  the  great  size  of  the  auditorium  could  accom- 
modate the  throng  of  participants.  At  each  of  the  iden- 
tical services,  repeated  at  intervals  from  early  morning 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    87 

until  the  evening,  the  attendance  was  greater  than  the 
building  could  contain.  And  the  transportation  facilities 
of  the  town  have  been  strained  to  their  utmost  to  care 
for  the  multitudes  going  and  coming. 

The  temporary  increase  of  the  population  of  Boston  has 
been  apparent  to  the  most  casual  observer.  And  so,  we 
think,  must  be  the  characteristics  of  this  crowd  of  visitors. 
It  is  a  pleasant,  congenial,  quietly  happy,  well-to-do, 
intellectual,  and  cheerfully  contented  multitude  that  has 
invaded  the  town.  There  are  among  them  visitors  of 
title  and  distinction,  but  one  does  not  notice  these  unless 
they  are  pointed  out.  The  impression  created  is  that  of 
a  great  gathering  of  people  we  like  to  know  and  like  to 
have  here. 

We  congratulate  these  comfortable  acquaintances  upon 
the  fact  that  they  have  their  costly  church  fully  paid  for, 
and  we  feel  that  Boston  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  the 
acquisition  of  an  edifice  so  handsome  architecturally. 

[Boston  Herald] 

I  do  not  think  I  have  ever  seen  more  cheerful  looking 
groups  of  people  than  I  have  met  in  Boston  during  the 
past  few  days.  Their  happy  faces  would  make  sunshine 
on  the  grayest  day.  If  Christian  Science  gives  such 
serene,  beautiful  expressions,  it  would  not  be  a  bad  thing 
if  all  the  world  turned  to  the  new  religion.  There  is  one 
thing  about  it:  it  is  certainly  imbued  with  the  spirit  of 
unselfishness  and  helpfulness,  and,  whatever  one's  special 
creed  may  be,  there  is  nothing  antagonistic  to  it  in  this 
doctrine  of  health,  happiness,  and  in  the  cheerful  doing 
of  good. 


88     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

GENERAL  EDrt-QRIAL  OPINION 

[Montreal  (Can.)  Gazette] 

Twenty  thousand  Christian  Scientists  have  assembled 
at  Boston  to  attend  the  opening  of  their  great  new 
temple.  Christian  Science,  as  now  before  this  conti- 
nent, is  the  development  of  a  short  lifetime.  It  shows 
strength  in  all  parts,  and  among  classes  above  the  aver- 
age in  intelligence. 

[Concord  (N.  H.)  Monitor] 

The  dedication,  Sunday,  in  Boston,  of  the  new  Mother 
Church  of  the  Christian  Science  faith  was  a  ceremonial  of 
far  more  than  usual  ecclesiastic  significance.  The  edifice 
itself  is  so  rich  in  the  architectural  symbolisms  of  aspira- 
tion and  faith,  its  proportions  are  so  large,  and  its  accom- 
modations are  so  wide,  that  its  dedication  abounds  in 
remarkable  external  manifestations  which  must  arrest 
public  attention.  But  externals  constitute  the  smallest 
feature  of  the  Christian  Science  faith,  and  this  beau- 
tiful temple,  striking  as  are  its  beauties,  is  only  a  slight 
and  material  development  in  evidence  of  that  beauty  and 
serenity  of  faith,  life,  and  love  which  finds  its  temple  in 
the  heart  of  all  that  increasing  host  who  have  found  the 
truths  of  Christian  Science  to  be  a  marvellous  revelation 
given  to  this  generation  by  a  noble  and  devoted  woman, 
to  whom  they  rightfully  turn  with  respect  and  affection. 

[Brooklyn  (N.  Y.)  Eagle] 

The  stoutest  enemies  of  Christian  Science  will  confess 
at  least  an  aesthetic  debt  to  that  great  and  growing  cult, 
which  is  implied  in  the  building  of  a  great  church  in  Bos- 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    89 

ton.  This  church  is  one  of  the  largest  and  seemliest  in 
America,  and  in  its  size,  if  not  in  its  aspect,  it  may  be 
held  to  symbolize  that  faith  which  is  so  much  a  faith 
that  all  facts  inhospitable  to  it  are  deemed  by  its  pro- 
fessors not  to  exist  at  all.  The  building  is  of  light  stone, 
with  a  dome  over  two  hundred  and  twenty  feet  high,  a 
chime  of  bells,  and  one  of  the  largest  organs  in  the  world. 
The  architect  has  joined  lightness  and  grace  to  solidity, 
and  the  edifice  needs  only  an  open  space  about  it,  such 
as  one  finds  in  the  English  cathedrals,  to  achieve  its 
extreme  of  beauty.  A  sect  that  leaves  such  a  monument 
has  not  lived  in  vain. 

A  remarkable  thing  in  this  building  is  that,  although 
it  cost  two  million  dollars,  it  is  not  blanketed  with  debts 
and  mortgages.  Everything,  even  to  the  flagstones  in 
front  of  it,  is  paid  for,  and  subscriptions  are  not  solic- 
ited. Here  is  an  occasion  for  joy  that  marks  it  as  dif- 
ferent from  almost  all  other  of  the  Christian  churches, 
where  petitions  for  money  are  almost  as  constant  as 
petitions  for  divine  mercy. 

[Denver  (Col.)  News] 

The  dedication  of  the  new  Mother  Church  of  the 
Christian  Scientists  in  Boston  is  not  a  matter  of  interest 
to  that  city  alone,  but  to  the  nation;  not  to  the  nation 
alone,  but  to  the  world;  not  to  this  time  alone,  but  to 
history. 

The  growi;h  of  this  form  of  religious  faith  has  been  one  of 
the  marvels  of  the  last  quarter  century.  It  is,  in  some 
respects,  the  greatest  religious  phenomenon  of  all  history. 
That  a  woman  should  found  a  rehgious  movement  of 
international  sway;    that  its  followers  should  number 


90     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

many  thousands  during  her  lifetime;  that  hundreds  of 
great  buildings  should  be  filled  at  every  meeting  Sun- 
days or  on  week-days  with  devout  worshippers,  wooed 
by  no  eloquence  of  orator  or  magnetic  ritual,  —  all  these 
things  are  new,  utterly  new,  in  the  history  of  religious 
expression. 

Unaccountable?  Hardly  so.  Whatever  else  it  is,  this 
•faith  is  real  and  is  given  very  real  tests.  Thousands  upon 
thousands  beheve  that  it  has  cured  them  of  diseases  many 
and  diverse.  All  the  passionate  love  for  life  with  which 
nature  endows  the  children  of  men,  grips  hold  of  their 
faith  and  insures  fidelity  in  pain  or  death  for  self  or  dear 
ones.  But,  while  health-seeking  is  the  door  to  this  gospel 
for  many,  it  is  not  the  only  source  of  appeal.  A  faith 
which  teaches  that  hate  is  atheism,  that  discord  is  poison- 
ous, that  gloom  is  sin,  has  a  mission  that  can  be  readily 
grasped  by  sick  or  well. 

The  world  is  enormously  richer  for  this  reincarnation  of 
the  old,  old  gospel  of  "on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward 
men." 

[Terre  Haute  (Ind.)  Star] 

The  dedication  of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christian 
Science  at  Boston,  with  its  paid-up  cost  of  two  million 
dollars  and  its  tremendous  outpouring  of  eager  commu- 
nicants from  all  over  the  civilized  world,  is  an  event  of 
impressiveness  and  momentous  significance.  The  historic 
place  of  Mrs.  Eddy  as  the  Founder  of  a  great  denomination 
can  no  longer  be  questioned,  and  the  sources  of  her  power 
and  following  can  be  readily  apprehended.  Prominent 
among  these  is  the  denomination's  peculiar  department  of 
healing,  the  efficacy  of  which  to  some  extent  is  established 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    91 

beyond  cavil.  The  immense  membership  of  the  body  is 
proof  positive  that  it  suppHes  these  persons,  most  of 
whom  were  already  nominal  Christians,  something  they 
did  not  find  in  other  communions.  It  affords  refutation 
of  the  notion  that  spiritual  and  mystic  mediation  has 
been  drowned  out  in  this  so-called  commercial  age.  The 
Christian  Scientists  set  a  good  example  to  other  denomi- 
nations in  requiring  their  church  edifices  to  be  fully  paid 
for  before  they  are  dedicated.  It  is  to  be  said  for  Chris- 
tian Science  that  no  person's  spiritual  aspirations  were 
ever  deadened  or  his  moral  standards  debased  through 
its  agency.  Its  communicants  are  cheerful  and  shed 
sunshine  about  them  —  no  insignificant  element  in  true 
Christianity. 

[Lafayette  (Ind.)  Journal] 

The  dedication  of  a  Christian  Science  temple  at  Boston 
serves  to  call  attention  to  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
religious  movements  that  this  country  or  any  other  country 
has  ever  known.  It  has  not  been  very  many  years  since 
Christian  Science  was  announced  as  a  discovery  of  Mary 
Baker  Eddy  of  Concord,  N.  H.  The  few  thousand  persons 
who  followed  Mrs.  Eddy  during  the  first  years  of  her 
preaching  were  the  objects  of  much  ridicule,  but  despite 
the  obstacles  put  in  the  way  the  church  has  continued  to 
grow.  Its  growi:h  in  numbers  is  remarkable,  but  even 
stranger  is  its  increase  in  wealth.  The  temple  which  has 
just  been  dedicated  at  Boston  cost  two  million  dollars, 
and  is  one  of  the  finest  places  of  worship  in  the  world, 
at  least  it  is  the  largest  in  New  England.  This  Mother 
Church  is  absolutely  free  from  debt.  After  but  a  few 
years.  Christian  Science  has  congregations  in  every  im- 


92     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

portant  town  and  city  of  the  United  States.  Of  course 
the  new  idea  will  never  have  determined  its  real  position 
in  the  doctrines  of  the  world  until  it  has  stood  the  test  of 
time.  But  its  beginning  has  been  impressive,  and  that 
large  numbers  of  intelligent  men  and  women  should  be 
converted  to  it  makes  it  appear  that  Science  cannot 
be  brushed  aside  by  ridicule  alone. 

[Springfield  (Mass.)  Republican] 

The  prodigious  convention  of  Christian  Scientists  in 
Boston  is  a  portent  worthy  of  perhaps  even  more  interest 
than  it  has  evoked  in  that  city,  where  a  new  temple  to 
Isis  and  Osiris  would  be  hardly  more  than  a  day's  wonder. 
With  the  swift  growth  of  the  new  faith  the  public  has  in 
a  general  way  been  familiar;  it  is  but  a  few  years  ago  that 
the  astonishing  revelation  was  made  that  since  1890  its 
following  had  increased  from  an  insignificant  number  to 
hundreds  of  thousands,  a  rate  at  which  every  other  sect  in 
the  country  would  soon  be  left  behind.  But  mere  statistics 
give  a  feeble  impression  in  comparison  with  so  huge  and 
concrete  a  demonstration  as  the  dedication  of  this  vast 
temple.  The  statistics  have  been  ridiculed  by  the  hostile 
as  mere  guesswork,  but  one  cannot  sneer  away  the  two- 
million-dollar  stone  edifice  or  the  thirty  thousand  wor- 
shippers who  entered  its  portals  Sunday. 

[Rochester  (N.  Y.)  Post  Express] 

There  are  two  things  to  be  said  in  favor  of  Christian 
Science.  Its  growth  has  been  wonderfully  rapid,  and  due 
apparently  to  nothing  save  the  desire  in  the  human  heart 
for  some  such  comfort  as  it  promises.     Christian  Scientists, 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    93 

as  a  class,  so  far  as  the  wTiter  knows  them,  are  happy, 
gentle,  and  virtuous.  They  are  multiplying  without 
efforts  at  proselytizing;  they  are  in  no  wise  at  war  with 
society;  and  they  have  little  of  the  spirit  of  bigotry.  The 
dedication  of  their  great  church  in  Boston  is  a  material 
evidence  of  their  prosperity;  and  it  may  be  said  that  if 
their  opinions  seem  visionary,  there  is  nothing  in  them 
to  attract  any  class  save  the  moderately  well-to-do,  the 
intelligent,  and  the  well-behaved.  It  has  been  said 
c^Tiically  that  a  religion  prospers  according  to  the  pledges 
which  it  holds  out  to  its  votaries;  and  though  Christian 
Science  promises  nothing  in  the  way  of  gratifying  the 
passions  or  attaining  dominion  over  others,  yet  it  has 
rare  lures  for  weary  hearts,  —  physical  health  and  spiritual 
peace. 

[Topeka  (Kan.)  Daily  Capital] 

Those  of  us  who  do  not  accept  the  doctrine  of  Christian 
Science  are  possibly  too  prone  to  approach  it  in  a  spirit 
of  levity,  too  often  disposed  to  touch  upon  it  with  the 
tongue  of  facetiousness.  Too  often  we  see  only  its  ridic- 
ulous phases,  attaching  meanwhile  no  importance  to 
the  saneness  and  common  sense  which  underlie  many  of 
the  practices  in  its  name.  And  many  of  us  have  missed 
entirely  its  tremendous  growth  and  the  part  it  has  come 
to  play  in  the  economy  of  our  social  and  religious  life. 

To  those  of  us  who  have  overlooked  these  essentials  of 
its  hold  upon  the  public,  certain  statistics  brought  to  light 
by  the  great  meeting  of  the  church  now  being  held  in 
Boston  will  come  in  the  nature  of  a  revelation.  In  1890 
the  faith  had  but  an  insignificant  following.  To-day  its 
adherents  number  hundreds  of  thousands,  and  if  the 


94     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

growth  continues  in  like  proportion  through  another 
decade  every  other  sect  will  be  left  behind  in  the  race  for 
numerical  supremacy.  The  figures  given  out  by  the 
church  itself  have  been  ridiculed  by  the  hostile  as  mere 
guesswork,  but  some  of  the  evidence  appears  in  the  con- 
crete and  cannot  be  combated.  "One  cannot  sneer  away 
the  two-million-dollar  stone  edifice  or  the  thirty  thousand 
worshippers  who  entered  its  portals  Sunday,"  says  the 
Springfield  Republican.  Neither  can  we  overlook  the 
steady,  consistent  growth  of  the  sect  in  every  commu- 
nity in  which  it  has  found  a  foothold.  In  the  adherence 
of  its  converts  to  the  faith,  and  in  the  absence  of  dissent 
among  them  in  the  interpretation  of  its  tenets,  there  is 
also  much  to  convince  the  skeptic. 

[Albany  (N.  Y.)  Knickerbocker] 

The  remarkable  growth  and  the  apparent  permanency 
of  Christian  Science  were  noted  in  the  recent  dedication  in 
Boston  of  the  magnificent  new  temple  of  the  cult.  When 
the  doors  were  opened  to  the  public,  the  structure  was  free 
from  debt.  While  the  dedicatory  services  were  being 
held  at  different  hours  of  the  day,  forty  thousand  Chris- 
tian Scientists  from  every  State  in  the  Union  and  from 
many  foreign  countries  were  in  attendance. 

Although  Mrs.  Eddy,  the  Founder  of  Christian  Science, 
was  not  in  attendance,  she  sent  greetings  in  which  she 
declared  that  the  "crowning  ultimate"  of  the  church 
"  rises  to  a  mental  monument,  a  superstructure  high  above 
the  work  of  men's  hands,  even  the  outcome  of  their 
hearts,  giving  to  the  material  a  spiritual  significance  — 
the  speed,  beauty,  and  achievements  of  goodness." 

But  a  few  years  ago,  men  there  were  who  predicted  that 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    95 

Christian  Science  would  soon  be  included  among  the  cults 
which  flourish  for  a  time  like  a  green  bay-tree,  and  are 
then  forgotten.  Those  predictions  have  not  been  verified. 
The  church  which  has  been  built  upon  the  tenets  first 
presented  by  Mrs.  Eddy  is  being  constantly  strengthened 
by  members  who  represent  the  intelligence  of  many 
communities  in  different  parts  of  the  world. 

[Mexican  Herald,  City  of  Mexico,  Mex,] 

The  dedication  of  the  magnificent  Christian  Science 
church  in  Boston  has  brought  that  cheerful  and  pros- 
perous body  of  believers  before  the  press  gallery  of  com- 
mentators. They  have  built  a  huge  church,  which  has 
cost  them  about  two  million  dollars,  and  it  has  a  dome 
which  rivals  that  of  the  famous  old  Massachusetts  State 
House.  During  the  great  assembly  of  forty  thousand 
Christian  Scientists  in  Boston  they  were  described  in  the 
newspapers  of  the  Hub  as  a  contented  and  well-dressed 
body  of  people. 

The  faith  of  these  people  is  certainly  great.  They  go 
about  telling  of  miracles  performed  in  this  twentieth  cen- 
tury when  "advanced"  clergymen  of  other  denominations 
are  avowing  their  disbelief  in  the  miraculous. 

The  higher  critics  and  the  men  of  science  may  think 
they  can  banish  faith  in  the  supernatural,  but  no  religion 
of  growth  and  vitality  exists  without  faith  in  the  things 
unseen. 

[Sandusky  (Ohio)  Star-JoumaI\ 

It  is  doubtful  if,  since  the  days  of  the  primitive  Chris- 
tians, there  has  been  such  a  wonderful  demonstration  of 
religious  faith  and  enlightened  zeal  as  that  exhibited  at 


96     THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

Boston,  Sunday,  when  forty  thousand  Christian  Scientists 
from  all  parts  of  the  world  assembled  to  participate  in 
the  dedication  of  the  extension  of  The  Mother  Church 
of  that  denomination.  These  people  were  of  the  highest 
order  of  intelligence,  many  of  them  prominent  figures  in 
the  social  and  business  world,  and  none  of  them  afflicted 
with  the  slightest  trace  of  fanaticism.  The  gathering 
can  in  no  sense,  save  one,  be  compared  with  those  of 
Mecca  and  the  Hindu  shrines,  where  fanaticism  domi- 
nates everything  else.  The  one  point  of  resemblance  is 
that  the  Christian  Scientists  are  thoroughly  in  earnest 
and  take  joy  in  attesting  their  faith  in  the  creed  of  the 
church  of  their  choice.  It  is  a  faith  based  upon  rea- 
son, and  reached  only  through  intelligent  and  unbiased 
study  and  comparison  with  other  creeds. 

A  remarkable  feature,  perhaps  the  most  remarkable,  of 
the  gathering  was  the  generosity  of  its  adherents  towards 
their  church.  The  building  they  were  in  Boston  to  dedi- 
cate cost  approximately  two  million  dollars.  Members 
were  invited  to  contribute  what  they  could  to  pay  for  it. 
The  money  was  sent  in  such  quantities  that  before  the  day 
set  for  the  dedication  arrived  the  fund  was  full  to  over- 
flowing and  the  members  were  asked  to  quit  giving. 

[Peoria  (III.)  Journal] 

It  is  the  custom  to  sneer  at  Christian  Science,  but  it  is 
evident  that  the  cult  will  soon  be  beyond  the  sneering 
point.  The  dedication  of  what  is  known  as  The  Mother 
Church  extension  in  Boston,  the  other  day,  was  attended 
by  people  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States.  And  they 
were  people  of  intelligence. 

The  fact  is  that  Christian  Science  just  goes  a  little 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    97 

beyond  what  almost  every  one  is  inclined  to  admit.  The 
best  physicians  now  admit  the  power  of  mind  over  matter. 
They  believe  that  firm  faith  on  the  part  of  a  sick  per- 
son, for  instance,  will  go  far  towards  making  the  patient 
well.  These  same  physicians,  however,  ridicule  the  idea 
of  a  patient  getting  well  without  the  use  of  medicine. 
It  has  yet  to  be  shown  that  of  the  sick  who  abjure 
medicine  a  larger  proportion  have  died  than  among 
those  who  were  medically  treated.  The  Journal  has 
kept  no  books  on  the  subject,  and  is  not  a  Christian 
Scientist,  but  believes  that  if  the  figures  could  be  given 
they  might  show  that  the  Scientists  have  a  little  the 
advantage  so  far  as  this  goes. 

[Nebraska  State  Journal,  Lincoln,  NebJ 

ZiorCs  Herald,  a  rather  bitter  critic  of  Mrs.  Eddy  and 
her  cult,  sf>eaks  of  "the  audacious,  stupendous,  inex- 
plicable faith  of  this  well-dressed,  good-looking,  emi- 
nently respectable,  evidently  wealthy  congregation  in 
their  teacher  and  her  utterances."  The  opening  of  the 
new  Mother  Church  of  the  Christian  Science  faith 
at  Boston  has  opened  the  eyes  of  the  country  anew  to 
the  growth  of  the  new  church  and  the  zeal  of  its 
membership. 

[Athal  (Mass.)  Transcript] 

The  Christian  Scientists  who  descended  upon  Boston 
to  the  number  of  forty  thousand  last  week  to  dedicate  the 
new  temple,  just  built  at  a  cost  of  two  million  dollars,  have 
mostly  departed,  but  Boston  has  not  yet  recovered  from 
the  effects  produced  by  that  stupendous  gathering.  The 
incidents  witnessed  during  the  week  were  calculated  to 


98      THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

impress  the  most  determined  skeptic.  Forty  thousand 
people  truly  make  up  a  mighty  host,  but  these,  it  is  de- 
clared, are  but  a  twentieth  of  the  Christian  Science  army 
in  this  country  to-day,  and  this  is  the  wonderful  growth 
of  less  than  a  score  of  years.  Christian  Science  may  be 
anything  that  its  foes  try  to  prove  it  to  be,  but  that  mag- 
nificent church,  holding  five  thousand  people,  dedicated 
free  from  debt,  and  the  centre  of  an  enthusiasm  and  rever- 
ence of  worship  such  as  religious  annals  hardly  parallel 
in  modern  times,  is  a  tangible  reality,  and  critics  who. 
seek  the  light  must  have  done  with  scoffs  and  jeers  if 
they  would  deal  with  the  phenomenon  with  any  effect. 

[Portland  (Ore.)  Telegram] 

The  last  issue  of  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel  contains 
a  rather  remarkable  announcement  to  the  effect  that 
friends  were  requested  to  send  no  more  money  for  the 
building  of  the  church  which  was  recently  dedicated  at 
Boston.  This  structure  cost  about  two  million  dollars, 
and  all  of  the  funds  required  to  build  it  were  raised  in  a 
little  less  than  three  years.  It  was  dedicated  absolutely 
free  of  debt,  and  no  member  of  the  church  anywhere, 
in  this  country  or  elsewhere,  was  asked  to  contribute  a 
dollar.  Contributions  were  entirely  voluntary.  No  re- 
sort was  had  to  any  of  the  latter-day  methods  of  raising 
money.  The  record  is  one  of  which  any  church  might 
well  be  proud. 

[Portiand  (Me.)  Advertiser] 

The  erection  in  Boston  of  the  two-million-dollar  church 
of  the  Christian  Scientists  and  its  dedication  free  from 
debt  has  been  a  wonderful  achievement,  but  as  our  con- 


AS  CHRONICLED   BY  THE  NEWSPAPERS    99 

temporary,  the  Boston  Times,  comments,  it  is  but  one  of 
the  marvellous,  great,  and  really  good  things  that  this 
sect  is  doing.  It  says:  "A  faith  which  is  able  to  raise 
its  beUevers  above  the  suffering  of  petty  ills;  a  religion 
that  makes  the  merry  heart  that  doeth  good  like  a 
medicine,  not  a  necessity,  but  a  pleasure  and  an  essen- 
tial; a  cult  able  to  promote  its  faith  with  so  great  an 
aggregation  of  good  and  beneficial  works,  is  w^elcomed 
within  our  midst  and  bidden  Godspeed." 

[Denver  (Col.)  Republican] 

Christian  Scientists  are  a  remarkably  optimistic  body 
of  people,  and  it  must  be  said  in  their  behalf  that  they 
are  enthusiasts  whenever  their  form  of  religion  is  con- 
cerned. They  have  recently  built  a  splendid  cathedral  in 
Boston,  seating  five  thousand  people,  at  a  cost  of  two 
million  dollars,  and  when  it  was  dedicated  there  was  not  a 
cent  of  indebtedness  left.  Thirty  thousand  of  the  faith, 
coming  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  attended  the  dedicatory 
exercises,  and  the  press  reports  state  that  the  contribution 
baskets  when  passed  around  were  literally  stuffed  and 
jammed  with  money. 

Less  than  a  generation  ago  there  was  not  a  Christian 
Science  church  in  the  land.  To-day  there  are  hundreds 
of  such  churches.  The  denomination  has  grown  with  a 
rapidity  that  is  startling,  and  the  end  is  not  yet. 

[Bridgeport  (Conn.)  Standard] 

Facts  and  figures  are  stubborn  things,  and  ignore  them 
as  we  may  their  existence  points  out  their  meaning  and 
leaves  no  choice  but  the  acceptance  of  them  at  their 
face  value.     The  recent  dedication  of  a  Christian  Science 


100   THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST 

temple  in  Boston  has  inevitably  brought  out  in  connection 
with  the  event  some  of  the  facts  and  figures  belonging  to 
it,  which  are  as  remarkable  in  their  aggregate  as  they  are 
unmistakable  in  their  trend.  The  temple  recently  dedi- 
cated at  Boston  cost  about  two  million  dollars  and  is 
therefore  the  property  of  no  poverty-stricken  sect.  On 
the  Sunday  of  the  dedication,  thirty  thousand  worshippers 
were  present  in  the  building,  coming  from  all,  or  nearly 
all,  parts  of  the  country,  and  representing  a  vast  number 
of  the  followers  of  the  cult. 

It  is  only  twenty-five  years,  or  thereabout,  since  the 
Christian  Science  sect  made  its  appearance  as  a  dis- 
tinctive organization  among  religious  bodies,  but  its 
members  are  numbered  by  thousands  to-day,  and  they 
are  very  generally  of  a  class  who  are  reputable,  intelli- 
gent, and  who  think  for  themselves. 


PART  II 

MISCELLANY 


MISCELLANY 

CHAPTER  I 
TO  THE  CHRISTIAN  WORLD 

IN  the  midst  of  the  imperfect,  perfection  is  reluctantly 
seen  and  acknowledged.  Because  Science  is  unim- 
peachable, it  summons  the  severest  conflicts  of  the  ages 
and  waits  on  God. 

The  faith  and  works  demanded  of  man  in  our  textbooks, 
the  Bible  and  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,"  and  the  proof  of  the  practicality  of  this  faith 
and  these  works,  show  conclusively  that  Christian  Science 
is  indeed  Science,  —  the  Science  of  Christ,  the  Science  of 
God  and  man,  of  the  creator  and  creation.  In  every  age 
and  at  its  every  appearing.  Science,  until  understood,  has 
been  persecuted  and  maligned.  Infinite  perfection  is 
unfolded  as  man  attains  the  stature  of  man  in  Christ 
Jesus  by  means  of  the  Science  which  Jesus  taught  and 
practised.  Alluding  to  this  divine  method,  the  Psalmist 
said :  "  Why  do  the  heathen  rage,  and  the  people  imagine 
a  vain  thing?" 

I  have  set  forth  Christian  Science  and  its  application 
to  the  treatment  of  disease  just  as  I  have  discovered 
them.  I  have  demonstrated  through  Mind  the  effects 
of  Truth  on  the  health,  longevity,  and  morals  of  men; 
and  I  have  found  nothing  in  ancient  or  in  modern  sys- 
tems on  which  to  found  my  own,  except  the  teachings 
and  demonstrations  of  our  great  Master  and  the  lives 
of  prophets  and  apostles.     The  Bible  has  been  my  only 

103 


104  MISCELLANY 

authority.  I  have  had  no  other  guide  in  the  strait  and 
narrow  way  of  Truth. 

Jewish  pagans  thought  that  the  learned  St.  Paul,  the 
Mars'  Hill  orator,  the  canonized  saint,  was  a  "pestilent 
fellow,"  but  to-day  all  sorts  of  institutions  flourish  under 
the  name  of  this  "pestilent  fellow."  That  epithet  points 
a  moral.  Of  old  the  Pharisees  said  of  the  great  master 
of  metaphysics,  "He  stirreth  up  the  people."  Because 
they  could  find  no  fault  in  him,  they  vented  their  hatred 
of  Jesus  in  opprobrious  terms.  But  what  would  be 
thought  to-day  of  a  man  that  should  call  St.  Paul 
a  "pest,"  and  what  will  be  thought  to-morrow  of  him 
who  shall  call  a  Christian  Scientist  a  "pest"?  Again, 
what  shall  be  said  of  him  who  says  that  the  Saviour 
of  men,  the  healer  of  men,  the  Christ,  the  Truth,  "stir- 
reth up  the  people"? 

It  is  of  the  utmost  concern  to  the  world  that  men 
suspend  judgment  and  sentence  on  the  pioneers  of 
Christianity  till  they  know  of  what  and  of  whom  these 
pioneers  speak.  A  person's  ignorance  of  Christian  Sci- 
ence is  a  sufficient  reason  for  his  silence  on  the  subject, 
but  what  can  atone  for  the  vulgar  denunciation  of  that 
of  which  a  man  knows  absolutely  nothing? 

On  November  21, 1898,  in  my  class  on  Christian  Science 
were  many  professional  men  and  women  of  the  highest 
talents,  scholarship,  and  character  in  this  or  any  other 
country.  What  was  it  that  brought  together  this  class 
to  learn  of  her  who,  thirty  years  ago,  was  met  with  the 
anathema  spoken  of  in  Scripture:  "Blessed  are  ye,  when 
men  shall  revile  you,  and  persecute  you,  and  shall  say  all 
manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake"?  It 
was  the  healing  of  the  sick,  the  saving  of  sinners,  the  works 


TO  THE  CHRISTIAN  WORLD  105 

even  more  than  the  words  of  Christ,  Truth,  which  had 
of  a  verity  stirred  the  people  to  search  the  Scriptures  and 
to  find  in  them  man's  only  medicine  for  mind  and  body. 
This  Ji)sculapius,  defined  Christianly  and  demonstrated 
scientifically,  is  the  divine  Principle  whose  rules  demon- 
strated prove  one's  faith  by  his  works.  ^ 

After  my  discover^'  of  Christian  Science,  I  healed  con- 
sumption in  its  last  stages,  a  case  which  the  M.D.'s, 
by  verdict  of  the  stethoscope  and  the  schools,  dciclared 
incurable  because  the  lungs  were  mostly  consumed,  I 
healed  malignant  diphtheria  and  carious  bones  that  could 
be  dented  by  the  finger,  saving  the  limbs  when  the  sur- 
geon's instruments  were  l^'ing  on  the  table  ready  for  their 
amputation.  I  have  healed  at  one  \dsit  a  cancer  that  had 
eaten  the  flesh  of  the  neck  and  exposed  the  jugular  vein 
so  that  it  stood  out  like  a  cord.  I  have  physically  restored 
sight  to  the  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  speech  to  the  dumb, 
and  have  made  the  lame  walk. 

About  the  year  1869,  I  was  wired  to  attend  the  patient 
of  a  distinguished  M.D.,  the  late  Dr.  Davis  of  Manchester, 
N.  H,  The  patient  was  pronounced  djing  of  pneumonia, 
and  was  breathing  at  intervals  in  agony.  Her  physician, 
who  stood  by  her  bedside,  declared  that  she  could  not  live. 
On  seeing  her  immediately  restored  by  me  without  mate- 
rial aid,  he  asked  earnestly  if  I  had  a  work  describing 
my  system  of  healing.  \Vhen  answered  in  the  negative, 
he  urged  me  immediately  to  write  a  book  which  should 
explain  to  the  world  my  curative  system  of  metaphysics. 
In  the  ranks  of  the  jM.D.'s  are  noble  men  and  women, 
and  I  love  them;  but  they  must  refrain  from  persecuting 
and  misrepresenting  a  system  of  medicine  which  from 
personal  experience  I  have  proved  to  be  more  certain 


106  MISCELLANY 

and  curative  in  functional  aiid  organic  diseases  than  any 
material  method.  I  admonish  Christian  Scientists  either 
to  speak  charitably  of  all  mankind  or  to  keep  silent,  for 
love  fulfils  divine  law  and  without  this  proof  of  love 
mental  practice  were  profitless. 

The  li§t  of  cases  healed  by  me  could  be  made  to  include 
hopeless  organic  diseases  of  almost  every  kind.  I  name 
those  mentioned  above  simply  to  show  the  folly  of  believ- 
ing that  the  immutable  laws  of  omnipotent  Mind  have  not 
power  over  and  above  matter  in  every  mode  and  form,  and 
the  folly  of  the  cognate  declaration  that  Christian  Science 
is  limited  to  imaginary  diseases !  On  the  contrary.  Chris- 
tian Science  has  healed  cases  that  I  assert  it  would  have 
been  impossible  for  the  surgeon  or  materia  medica  to  cure. 
Without  Mind,  man  and  the  universe  would  collapse; 
the  winds  would  weary,  and  the  world  stand  still.  It  is 
already  proved  that  Christian  Science  rests  on  the  basis  of 
fixed  Principle,  and  overcomes  the  evidence  of  diseased 
sensation.  Human  mentality,  expressed  in  disease,  sin, 
and  death,  in  tempest  and  in  flood,  the  divine  Mind  calms 
and  limits  with  a  word. 

In  what  sense  is  the  Christian  Scientist  a  "pest"  ?  Is  it 
because  he  minds  his  own  business  more  than  does  the 
average  man,  is  not  a  brawler,  an  alcohol  drinker,  a 
tobacco  user,  a  profane  swearer,  an  adulterer,  a  fornicator, 
nor  a  dishonest  politician  or  business  man?  Or  is  it 
because  he  is  the  very  antipode  of  all  these?  In  what 
sense  is  the  Christian  Scientist  a  charlatan?  Is  it  because 
he  heals  the  sick  without  drugs? 

Our  great  Exemplar,  the  Nazarene  Prophet,  healed 
through  Mind,  and  commanded  his  followers  to  do  like- 
wise.   The  prophets  and  apostles  and  the  Christians  in 


TO  THE   CHRISTIAN  WORLD  107 

the  first  century  healed  the  sick  as  a  token  of  their  Chris- 
tianity. Has  Christianity  improved  upon  its  eariier 
records,  or  has  it  retrograded?  Compare  the  Uves  of  its 
professors  with  those  of  its  followers  at  the  beginning  of 
the  Christian  era,  and  you  have  the  correct  answer. 

As  a  pertinent  illustration  of  the  general  subject  under 
discussion,  I  will  cite  a  modern  phase  of  medical  practice, 
namely,  the  homoeopathic  system,  to  which  the  old  school 
has  become  reconciled.  Here  I  speak  from  experience. 
In  homoeopathy,  the  one  thousandth  attenuations  and 
the  same  triturations  of  medicine  have  not  an  iota  of  the 
drug  left  in  them,  and  the  lower  attenuations  have  so 
little  that  a  vial  full  of  the  pellets  can  be  swallowed  without 
harm  and  without  appreciable  effect.  Yet  the  homoe- 
opathist  administers  half  a  dozen  or  less  of  these  same 
globules,  and  he  tells  you,  and  you  believe  him,  that 
with  these  pellets  he  heals  the  sick.  The  diminishing  of 
the  drug  does  not  disprove  the  efficiency  of  the  homoeo- 
pathic system.  It  enhances  its  efficiency,  for  it  identifies 
this  system  with  mind,  not  matter,  and  places  it  nearer  the 
grooves  of  omnipotence.  0  petty  scorner  of  the  infinite, 
wouldst  thou  mock  God's  miracles  or  scatter  the  shade  of 
one  who  " shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty"? 
If,  as  Scripture  declares,  God  made  all  that  was  made, 
then  whatever  is  entitled  to  a  classification  as  truth 
or  science  must  be  comprised  in  a  knowledge  or  under- 
standing of  God,  for  there  can  be  nothing  beyond 
illimitable  divinity. 

The  homceopathist  handles  in  his  practice  and  heals  the 
most  violent  stages  of  organic  and  inflammatory  diseases, 
stops  decomposition,  removes  enteritis,  gastritis,  hyper- 
semia,  pneumonia,  diphtheria,  and  ossification — the  effects 


108  MISCELLANY 

of  calcareous  salts  formed  bV  carbonate  and  sulphate  of 
lime;  and  the  homoeopathic  physician  succeeds  as  well  in 
healing  his  cases  without  drugs  as  does  the  allopath  who 
depends  upon  drugs.  Then  is  mind  or  matter  the  intelli- 
gent cause  in  pathology?  If  matter,  I  challenge  matter 
to  act  apart  from  mind;  and  if  mind,  I  have  proved  beyond 
cavil  that  the  action  of  the  divine  Mind  is  salutary  and 
potent  in  proportion  as  it  is  seen  to  act  apart  from  matter. 
Hence  our  Master's  saying,  "The  flesh  profiteth  nothing." 
The  difference  between  metaphysics  in  homoeopathy  and 
metaphysics  in  Christian  Science  consists  in  this  forcible 
fact :  the  former  enlists  faith  in  the  pharmacy  of  the 
human  mind,  and  the  latter  couples  faith  with  spiritual 
understanding  and  is  based  on  the  law  of  divine  Mind. 
Christian  Science  recognizes  that  this  Mind  is  the  only 
lawgiver,  omnipotent,  infinite.  All.  Hence  the  divine 
Mind  is  the  sovereign  appeal,  and  there  is  nothing  in 
the  divine  Mind  to  attenuate.  The  more  of  this  Mind 
the  better  for  both  physician  and  patient. 

Ignorance,  slang,  and  malice  touch  not  the  hem  of  the 
garment  of  Christian  Scientists,  for  if  they  did  once  touch 
it,  they  would  be  destroyed.  To  be  stoned  for  that  which 
our  Master  designated  as  his  best  work,  saying,  "For 
which  of  those  works  do  ye  stone  me, "  is  to  make  known 
the  best  work  of  a  Christian  Scientist. 

Finally,  beloved  brethren  in  Christ,  the  words  of  the 
New  York  press  —  "Mrs.  Eddy  not  shaken"  —  are  valid. 
I  remain  steadfast  in  St.  Paul's  faith,  and  will  close  with 
his  own  words:  " Christ  is  the  head  of  the  church:  and  he 
is  the  saviour  of  the  body." 


CHAPTER  II 
THE  CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  TEXTBOOK 

MATTER  is  but  the  subjective  state  of  mortal  mind. 
Matter  has  no  more  substance  and  reality  in  our 
day-dreams  than  it  has  in  our  night-dreams.  All  the  way 
mortals  are  experiencing  the  Adam-dream  of  mind  in 
matter,  the  dream  which  is  mortal  and  God-condemned 
and  which  is  not  the  spiritual  fact  of  being.  When  this 
scientific  classification  is  understood,  we  shall  have  one 
Mind,  one  God,  and  we  shall  obey  the  commandment, 
"Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 

If  nineteen  hundred  years  ago  Christ  taught  his  fol- 
lowers to  heal  the  sick,  he  is  to-day  teaching  them  the 
same  heavenly  lesson.  Christ  is  "the  same  yesterday, 
and  to-day,  and  forever."  "God  is  Love,"  the  ever- 
operative  divine  Principle  (or  Person,  if  you  please)  whose 
person  is  not  corporeal,  not  finite.  This  infinite  Person 
we  know  not  of  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  yet  we  may 
sometimes  say  with  Job,  "But  now  mine  eye  [spiritual 
sense]  seeth  Thee." 

God  is  one  because  God  is  All.  Therefore  there  can 
be  but  one  God,  one  Christ.  We  are  individually  but 
specks  in  His  universe,  the  reflex  images  of  this  divine 
Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  in  whom  "we  live,  and  move, 
and  have  our  being."  Divine  metaphysics  is  not  to 
be  scoffed  at;  it  is  Truth  with  us,  God  "manifest  in  the 
flesh,"  not  alone  by  miracle  and  parable,  but  by  proof; 

109 


110  MISCELLANY 

it  is  the  divine  nature  of  God,  which  belongs  not  to  a 
dispensation  now  ended,  but  is  ever  present,  casting  out 
evils,  heahng  the  sick,  and  raising  the  dead  —  resurrect- 
ing individuals  buried  above-ground  in  material  sense. 

At  the  present  time  this  Bethlehem  star  looks  down 
upon  the  long  night  of  materialism,  —  material  religion, 
material  medicine,  a  material  world;  and  it  shines  as  of 
yore,  though  it  "shineth  in  darkness;  and  the  dark- 
ness comprehended  it  not."  But  the  day  will  dawn  and 
the  daystar  will  appear,  lighting  the  gloom,  guiding  the 
steps  of  progress  from  molecule  and  mortals  outward  and 
upward  in  the  scale  of  being. 

Hidden  electrical  forces  annihilating  time  and  space, 
wireless  telegraphy,  navigation  of  the  air;  in  fact,  all  the 
et  cetera  of  mortal  mind  pressing  to  the  front,  remind  me 
of  my  early  dreams  of  flying  in  airy  space,  buoyant  with 
liberty  and  the  luxury  of  thought  let  loose,  rising  higher 
and  forever  higher  in  the  boundless  blue.  And  what  of 
reality,  if  waking  to  bodily  sensation  is  real  and  if  bodily 
sensation  makes  us  captives?  The  night  thought,  me- 
thinks,  should  unfold  in  part  the  facts  of  day,  and  open 
the  prison  doors  and  solve  the  blind  problem  of  matter. 
The  night  thought  should  show  us  that  even  mortals 
can  mount  higher  in  the  altitude  of  being.  Mounting 
higher,  mortals  will  cease  to  be  mortal.  Christ  will  have 
"led  captivity  captive,"  and  immortality  will  have  been 
brought  to  light. 

Robert  Ingersoll's  attempt  to  convict  the  Scriptures  of 
inconsistency  made  his  life  an  abject  failure.  Happily, 
the  misquoting  of  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,"  or  quoting  sentences  or  paragraphs  torn  from 
their  necessary  contexts,  may  serve  to  call  attention  to 


THE   CHRISTIAN   SCIENCE  TEXTBOOK      lU 

that  book,  and  thus  reveal  truths  which  otherwise  the 
reader  would  not  have  sought.  Surely  "  the  wrath  of  man 
shall  praise  Thee." 

The  nature  and  truth  of  Christian  Science  cannot 
be  destroyed  by  false  psychics,  crude  theories  or  modes 
of  metaphysics.  Our  master  Metaphysician,  the  Galilean 
Prophet,  had  much  the  same  class  of  minds  to  deal  with 
as  we  have  in  our  time.  They  disputed  his  teachings  on 
practically  the  same  grounds  as  are  now  assumed  by  many 
doctors  and  lawyers,  but  he  swept  away  their  illogical 
syllogisms  as  chaff  is  separated  from  the  wheat.  The 
genuine  Christian  Scientist  will  tell  you  that  he  has  found 
the  physical  and  spiritual  status  of  a  perfect  life  through 
his  textbook. 

The  textbook  of  Christian  Science  maintains  primitive 
Christianity,  shows  how  to  demonstrate  it,  and  through- 
out is  logical  in  premise  and  in  conclusion.  Can  Scien- 
tists adhere  to  it,  establish  their  practice  of  healing  on 
its  basis,  become  successful  healers  and  models  of  good 
morals,  and  yet  the  book  itself  be  absurd  and  unscientific? 
Is  not  the  tree  known  by  its  fruit?  Did  Jesus  mistake 
his  mission  and  unwittingly  misguide  his  followers?  Were 
the  apostles  absurd  and  unscientific  in  adhering  to  his 
premise  and  proving  that  his  conclusion  was  logical 
and  divine? 

"The  scientific  statement  of  being  "  (Science  and  Health, 
p.  468)  may  irritate  a  certain  class  of  professionals 
who  fail  to  understand  it,  and  they  may  pronounce  it 
absurd,  ambiguous,  unscientific.  But  that  Christian 
Science  is  valid,  simple,  real,  and  self-evident,  thousands 
upon  thousands  attest  with  their  individual  demonstra- 
tions.    They    have    themselves   been  healed   and   have 


112  MISCELLANY 

healed  others  by  means  of -the  Principle  of  Christian 
Science.  Science  has  always  been  first  met  with  denun- 
ciations. A  fiction  or  a  false  philosophy  flourishes  for  a 
time  where  Science  gains  no  hearing.  The  followers  of  the 
Master  in  the  early  Christian  centuries  did  just  what  he 
enjoined  and  what  Christian  Science  makes  practical'  to- 
day to  those  who  abide  in  its  teachings  and  build  on  its 
chief  corner-stone.  Our  religious  denominations  interpret 
the  Scriptures  to  fit  a  doctrine,  but  the  doctrines  taught 
by  divine  Science  are  founded  squarely  and  only  on  the 
Scriptures. 

"  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures  "  is  not 
inconsistent  in  a  single  instance  with  its  logical  premise 
and  conclusion,  and  ninety-nine  out  of  every  hundred 
of  its  readers  —  honest,  intelligent,  and  scholarly  —  will 
tell  you  this.  The  earnest  student  of  this  book,  under- 
standing it,  demonstrates  in  some  degree  the  truth  of  its 
statements,  and  knows  that  it  contains  a  Science  which 
is  demonstrable  when  understood,  and  which  is  fully 
understood  when  demonstrated.  That  Christian  Scien- 
tists, because  of  their  uniformly  pure  morals  and  noble 
lives,  are  better  representatives  of  Christian  Science 
than  the  textbook  itself,  is  not  in  accordance  with  the 
Scriptures.  The  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit.  The  student 
of  this  book  will  tell  you  that  his  higher  life  is  the  result 
of  his  conscientious  study  of  Science  and  Health  in  con- 
nection with  the  Bible. 

A  book  that  through  the  good  it  does  has  won  its 
way  into  the  palaces  of  emperors  and  kings,  into  the 
home  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  into  the  chief 
cities  and  the  best  families  in  our  own  and  in  foreign 
lands,  a  book  which  lies  beside  the  Bible  in  hundreds 


THE  CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  TEXTBOpK      113 

of  pulpits  and  in  thousands  of  homes,  which  heals  the 
sick  and  reclaims .  sinners  in  court  and  in  cottage,  is 
not  less  the  evangel  of  Christian  Science  than  is  he 
who  practises  the  teachings  of  this  book  or  he  who 
studies  it  and  thereby  is  healed  of  disease.  Can  such  a 
book  be  ambiguous,  self-contradictory,  or  unprofitable 
to  mankind? 

St.  Paul  was  a  follower  but  not  an  immediate  disciple 
of  our  Lord,  and  Paul  declares  the  truth  of  the  complete 
system  of  Christian  Science  in  these  brief  sentences: 
"There  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation  to  them  which 
are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after 
the  Spirit.  For  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus 
hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death."  Was 
it  profane  for  St.  Paul  to  aspire  to  this  knowledge  of  Christ 
and  its  demonstration,  healing  sin  and  sickness,  because 
he  was  not  a  disciple  of  the  personal  Jesus?  Nay,  verily. 
Neither  is  it  presumptuous  or  unscriptural  or  vain  for 
another,  a  suckling  in  the  arms  of  divine  Love,  to  perfect 
His  praise. 

A  child  will  demonstrate  Christian  Science  and  have 
a  clear  perception  of  it.  Then,  is  Christian  Science  a 
cold,  dull  abstraction,  or  is  that  unscientific  which 
all  around  us  is  demonstrated  on  a  fixed  Principle  and 
a  given  rule,  —  when,  in  proportion  as  this  Principle 
and  rule  are  understood,  men  are  found  casting  out 
the  evils  of  mortal  thought,  healing  the  sick,  and  uplift- 
ing human  consciousness  to  a  more  spiritual  life  and 
love?  The  signs  of  the  times  emphasize  the  answer 
to  this  in  the  rapid  and  steady  advancement  of  this  Sci- 
ence among  the  scholarly  and  titled,  the  deep  thinkers, 
the  truly  great  men  and  women  of  this  age.     In  the 


114  ,  MISCELLANY 

words  of  the  Master,  "  Can'  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of 
the  times?" 

Christian  Science  teaches:  Owe  no  man;  be  temperate; 
abstain  from  alcohol  and  tobacco;  be  honest,  just,  and 
pure;  cast  out  evil  and  heal  the  sick;  in  short,  Do  unto 
others  as  ye  would  have  others  do  to  you. 

Has  one  Christian  Scientist  yet  reached  the  maxi- 
mum of  these  teachings?  And  if  not,  why  point  the 
people  to  the  lives  of  Christian  Scientists  and  decry  the 
book  which  has  moulded  their  lives?  Simply  because 
the  treasures  of  this  textbook  are  not  yet  uncovered 
to  the  gaze  of  many  men,  the  beauty  of  hoUness  is  not 
yet  won. 

My  first  writings  on  Christian  Science  began  with  notes 
on  the  Scriptures.  I  consulted  no  other  authors  and  read 
no  other  book  but  the  Bible  for  about  three  years.  What 
I  wrote  had  a  strange  coincidence  or  relationship  with  the 
light  of  revelation  and  solar  light.  I  could  not  write  these 
notes  after  sunset.  All  thoughts  in  the  line  of  Scriptural 
interpretation  would  leave  me  until  the  rising  of  the  sun. 
Then  the  influx  of  divine  interpretation  would  pour  in 
upon  my  spiritual  sense  as  gloriously  as  the  sunlight  on  the 
material  senses.  It  was  not  myself,  but  the  divine  power 
of  Truth  and  Love,  infinitely  above  me,  which  dictated 
"Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures."  I 
have  been  learning  the  higher  meaning  of  this  book  since 
writing  it. 

Is  it  too  much  to  say  that  this  book  is  leavening 
the  whole  lump  of  human  thought?  You  can  trace  its 
teachings  in  each  step  of  mental  and  spiritual  progress, 
from  pulpit  and  press,  in  religion  and  ethics,  and  find 
these  progressive  steps  either  written  or  indicated  in  the 


THE   CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  TEXTBOOK      115 

book.  It  has  mounted  thought  on  the  swift  and  mighty 
chariot  of  divine  Love,  which  to-day  is  circhng  the 
whole  world. 

I  should  blush  to  write  of  "Science  and  Health  with 
Key  to  the  Scriptures"  as  I  have,  were  it  of  human  origin, 
and  were  I,  apart  from  God,  its  author.  But,  as  I  was 
only  a  scribe  echoing  the  harmonies  of  heaven  in  divine 
metaphysics,  I  cannot  be  super-modest  in  my  estimate  of 
the  Christian  Science  textbook. 


CHAPTER  III 

PERSONALITY 

Personal  Contagion 

AT  a  time  of  contagious  disease,  Christian  Scientists  en- 
xV  deavor  to  rise  in  consciousness  to  the  true  sense  of 
the  omnipotence  of  Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  and  this  great 
fact  in  Christian  Science  reahzed  will  stop  a  contagion. 

In  time  of  religious  or  scientific  prosperity,  certain  indi- 
viduals are  inclined  to  cling  to  the  personality  of  its 
leader.  This  state  of  mind  is  sickly;  it  is  a  contagion 
—  a  mental  malady,  which  must  be  met  and  overcome. 
Why?  Because  it  would  dethrone  the  First  Command- 
ment, Thou  shalt  have  one  God. 

If  God  is  one  and  God  is  Person,  then  Person  is  infinite; 
and  there  is  no  personal  worship,  for  God  is  divine  Prin- 
ciple, Love.  Hence  the  sin,  the  danger  and  darkness  of 
personal  contagion. 

Forgetting  divine  Principle  brings  on  this  contagion. 
Its  symptoms  are  based  upon  personal  sight  or  sense. 
Declaring  the  truth  regarding  an  individual  or  leader, 
rendering  praise  to  whom  praise  is  due,  is  not  a  symp- 
tom of  this  contagious  malady,  but  persistent  pursuit 
of  his  or  her  person  is. 

Every  loss  in  grace  and  growth  spiritual,  since  time 
began,  has  come  from  injustice  and  personal  contagion. 
Had  the  ages  helped  their  leaders  to,  and  let  them  alone 

Copyright,  1909,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
116 


PERSONAL  CONTAGION  117 

in,  God's  glory,  the  world  would  not  have  lost  the  Science 
of  Christianity. 

"What  went  ye  out  for  to  see?"  A  person,  or  a  Prin- 
ciple? Whichever  it  be,  determines  the  right  or  the 
wrong  of  this  following.  A  personal  motive  gratified  by 
sense  will  leave  one  "a  reed  shaken  with  the  wind," 
whereas  helping  a  leader  in  God's  direction,  and  giving 
this  leader  time  and  retirement  to  pursue  the  infinite 
ascent,  —  the  comprehending  of  the  divine  order  and  con- 
sciousness in  Science,  —  will  break  one's  own  dream  of 
personal  sense,  heal  disease,  and  make  one  a  Christian 
Scientist. 

Is  not  the  old  question  still  rampant?  "When  saw  we 
thee  a  stranger,  and  took  thee  in?  or  naked,  and  clothed 
thee?  Or  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  came 
unto  thee?  "  But  when  may  we  see  you,  to  get  some  good 
out  of  your  personality? 

"In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was 
with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God"  (St.  John).  This 
great  truth  of  God's  impersonality  and  individuality  and 
of  man  in  His  image  and  likeness,  individual,  but  not 
personal,  is  the  foundation  of  Christian  Science.  There 
was  never  a  religion  or  philosophy  lost  to  the  centuries 
except  by  sinking  its  divine  Principle  in  personality. 
May  all  Christian  Scientists  ponder  this  fact,  and  give 
their  talents  and  loving  hearts  free  scope  only  in  the 
right  direction! 

I  left  Boston  in  the  height  of  prosperity  to  retreat  from 
the  world,  and  to  seek  the  one  divine  Person,  whereby 
and  wherein  to  show  others  the  footsteps  from  sense  to 
Soul.  To  give  me  this  opportunity  is  all  that  I  ask  of 
mankind. 


118  MISCELLANY 

My  soul  thanks  the  loyal,  royal  natures  of  the  beloved 
members  of  my  church  who  cheerfully  obey  God  and 
steadily  go  on  promoting  the  true  Principle  of  Christian 
Science.  Only  the  disobedient  spread  personal  contagion, 
and  any  imaginary  benefit  they  receive  is  the  effect  of 
self-mesmerism,  wherein  the  remedy  is  worse  than  the 
disease. 


Letter  to  a  Clergyman 

My  Dear  Sir :  —  I  beg  to  thank  you  for  your  most 
excellent  letter.  It  is  an  outpouring  of  goodness  and 
greatness  with  which  you  honor  me. 

In  a  call  upon  my  person,  you  would  not  see  me,  for 
spiritual  sense  demands  and  commands  us;  hence  I  seek 
to  be  "absent  from  the  body,"  and  such  circumstances 
embarrass  the  higher  criticism. 

The  Scripture  reads:  "Blessed  are  they  that  have  not 
seen,  and  yet  have  beUeved."  A  saving  faith  comes 
not  of  a  person,  but  of  Truth's  presence  and  power. 
Soul,  not  sense,  receives  and  gives  it.  One's  voluntary 
withdrawal  from  society,  from  furnishing  the  demands 
upon  the  finite  to  supply  the  blessings  of  the  infinite, — 
something  impossible  in  the  Science  of  God  and  credited 
only  by  human  belief,  by  a  material  and  not  by  the 
spiritual  sense  of  man,  —  should  come  from  conscience. 

The  doctrine  of  Buddha,  which  rests  on  a  heathen  basis 
for  its  Nirvana,  represents  not  the  divinity  of  Christian 
Science,  in  which  Truth,  or  Christ,  finds  its  paradise  in 
Spirit,  in  the  consciousness  of  heaven  within  us  —  health, 
harmony,  holiness,  entirely  apart  from  limitations,  which 
would  dwarf  individuality  in  personality  and  couple  evil 


LETTER  TO  A   CLERGYMAN  119 

with  good.  It  is  convenient  for  history  to  record  Hmi- 
tations  and  to  regard  evil  as  real,  but  it  is  impossible 
in  Science  to  believe  this,  or  on  such  a  basis  to  demon- 
strate the  divine  Principle  of  that  which  is  real,  harmo- 
nious, and  eternal  —  that  which  is  based  on  one  infinite 
God,  and  man.  His  idea,  image,  and  likeness. 

In  Science,  we  learn  that  man  is  not  absorbed  in  the 
divine  nature,  but  is  absolved  by  it.  Man  is  free  from 
the  flesh  and  is  individual  in  consciousness  —  in  Mind, 
not  in  matter.  Think  not  that  Christian  Science  tends 
towards  Buddhism  or  any  other  "ism."  Per  contra, 
Christian  Science  destroys  such  tendency.  IMary  of  old 
wept  because  she  stooped  down  and  looked  into  the  sepul- 
chre —  looked  for  the  person,  instead  of  the  Principle  that 
reveals  Christ.  The  ]VIary  of  to-day  looks  up  for  Christ, 
away  from  the  supposedly  crucified  to  the  ascended 
Christ,  to  the  Truth  that  "healeth  all  thy  diseases"  and 
gives  dominion  over  all  the  earth.  The  doubting  disciple 
could  not  identify  Christ  spiritually,  but  he  could  mate- 
rially. He  turned  to  the  person,  to  the  prints  of  the  nails, 
to  prove  Christ,  whereas  the  discharged  evidence  of  mate- 
rial sense  gave  the  real  proof  of  his  Saviour,  the  veritable 
Christ,  Truth,  which  destroys  the  false  sense  with  the 
evidence  of  Soul,  immortality,  eternal  Life  without  begin- 
ning or  end  of  days. 

Should  I  give  myself  the  pleasant  pastime  of  seeing  your 
personal  self,  or  give  you  the  opportunity  of  seeing  mine, 
you  would  not  see  me  thus,  for  I  am  not  there.  I 
have  risen  to  look  and  wait  and  watch  and  pray  for  the 
spirit  of  Truth  that  leadeth  away  from  person  —  from 
body  to  Soul,  even  to  the  true  image  and  likeness  of 
God.     St.  John  found  Christ,  Truth,  in  the  Word  which 


120  MISCELLANY 

is  God.  We  look  for  the  sainted  Revelator  in  his  writ- 
ings, and  there  we  find  him.  Those  who  look  for  me  in 
person,  or  elsewhere  than  in  my  writings,  lose  me  in- 
stead of  find  me.  I  hope  and  trust  that  you  and  I  may 
meet  in  truth  and  know  each  other  there,  and  know 
as  we  are  known  of  God. 

Accept  my  gratitude  for  the  chance  you  give  me  to 
answer  your  excellent  letter.  Forgive,  if  it  needs  forgive- 
ness, my  honest  position.  Bear  with  me  the  burden  of 
discovery  and  share  with  me  the  bliss  of  seeing  the  risen 
Christ,  God's  spiritual  idea  that  takes  away  all  sin,  disease, 
and  death,  and  gives  to  soul  its  native  freedom. 


CHAPTER  IV 

MESSAGES  TO  THE  MOTHER  CHURCH 
Communion,  January  2,  1898 

MY  Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  have  suggested  a 
change  in  the  time  for  holding  our  semi-annual 
church  meetings,  in  order  to  separate  these  sessions 
from  the  excitement  and  commotion  of  the  season's 
holidays. 

In  metaphysics  we  leafn  that  the  strength  of  peace 
and  of  suffering  is  sublime,  a  true,  tried  mental  convic- 
tion that  is  neither  tremulous  nor  relapsing.  This 
strength  is  like  the  ocean,  able  to  carry  navies,  yet 
yielding  to  the  touch  of  a  finger.  This  peace  is  spiritual; 
never  selfish,  stony,  nor  stormy,  but  generous,  reliable, 
helpful,  and  always  at  hand. 

Peace,  like  plain  dealing,  is  somewhat  out  of  fashion. 
Yet  peace  is  desirable,  and  plain  dealing  is  a  jewel  as  beau- 
tiful as  the  gems  that  adorn  the  Christmas  ring  presented 
to  me  by  my  students  in  1897.  Few  blemishes  can  be 
found  in  a  true  character,  for  it  is  always  a  diamond  of  the 
first  water;  but  external  gentility  and  good  humor  may 
be  used  to  disguise  internal  vulgarity  and  villainy.  No 
deformity  exists  in  honesty,  and  no  vulgarity  in  kindness. 
Christian  Science,  however,  adds  to  these  graces,  and 
reflects  the  divine  likeness. 

Self-denial  is  practical,  and  is  not  only  polite  to  all 
but  is  pleasant  to  those  who  practise  it.    If  one  would 

121 


122  MISCELLANY 

follow  the  advice  that  one  gratuitously  bestows  on 
others,  this  would  create  for  one's  self  and  for  the  world 
a  destiny  more  grand  than  can  issue  from  the  brain  of 
a  dreamer. 

That  glory  only  is  imperishable  which  is  fixed  in  one's 
own  moral  make-up. 

Sin  is  like  a  dock  root.  To  cut  off  the  top  of  a  plant 
does  no  good;  the  roots  must  be  eradicated  or  the  plant 
will  continue  to  grow.  Now  I  am  done  with  homilies 
and,  you  may  add,  with  tedious  prosaics. 

On  the  fifth  of  July  last,  my  church  tempted  me  ten- 
derly to  be  proud !  The  deportment  of  its  dear  members 
was  such  as  to  command  respect  everywhere.  It  called 
forth  flattering  comment  and  cheated  surprise  in  our  good 
city  of  Concord. 

Beloved  brethren,  another  Christmas  has  come  and  gone. 
Has  it  enabled  us  to  know  more  of  the  healing  Christ  that 
saves  from  sickness  and  sin?  Are  we  still  searching  dili- 
gently to  find  where  the  young  child  lies,  and  are  we  sat- 
isfied to  know  that  our  sense  of  Truth  is  not  demoralized, 
finitized,  cribbed,  or  cradled,  but  has  risen  to  grasp  the 
spiritual  idea  unenvironed  by  materiality?  Can  we  say 
with  the  angels  to-day:  "He  is  risen;  he  is  not  here: 
behold  the  place  where  they  laid  him"?  Yes,  the  real 
Christian  Scientist  can  say  his  Christ  is  risen  and  is  not 
the  material  Christ  of  creeds,  but  is  Truth,  even  as  Jesus 
declared;  and  the  sense  of  Truth  of  the  real  Christian 
Scientist  is  spiritualized  to  behold  this  Christ,  Truth, 
again  healing  the  sick  and  saving  sinners.  The  mission 
of  our  Master  was  to  all  mankind,  and  included  the  very 
hearts  that  rejected  it  —  that  refused  to  see  the  power 
of  Truth  in  healing. 


COMMUNION,   JANUARY  2,   1898  123 

Our  unity  and  progress  are  proverbial,  and  this  church's 
gifts  to  me  are  beyond  comparison  —  they  have  become 
a  wonder!  To  me,  however,  love  is  the  greater  marvel, 
so  I  must  continue  to  prize  love  even  more  than  the  gifts 
which  would  express  it.  The  great  guerdon  of  divine 
Love,  which  moves  the  hearts  of  men  to  goodness  and 
greatness,  will  reward  these  givers,  and  this  encourages 
me  to  continue  to  urge  the  perfect  model  for  your  accept- 
ance as  the  ultimate  of  Christian  Science. 

To-day  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  we  have  a  modest  hall  in  one 
of  the  finest  localities  in  the  city,  —  a  reading-room  and 
nine  other  rooms  in  the  same  building.  "Tell  it  not  in 
Grath"!  I  had  the  property  bought  by  the  courtesy  of 
another  person  to  be  rid  of  the  care  and  responsibility  of 
purchasing  it,  and  furnished  him  the  money  to  pay  for  it. 
The  original  cost  of  the  estate  was  fourteen  thousand 
dollars.  With  the  repairs  and  other  necessary  expenses 
the  amount  is  now  about  twenty  thousand  dollars.  Ere 
long  I  will  see  you  in  this  hall,  Deo  volente ;  but  my  out- 
door accommodations  at  Pleasant  View  are  bigger  than 
the  indoor.  My  little  hall,  which  holds  a  trifle  over  two 
hundred  people,  is  less  sufficient  to  receive  a  church  of  ten 
thousand  members  than  were  the  "five  loaves  and  two 
fishes"  to  feed  the  multitude;  but  the  true  Christian 
Scientist  is  not  frightened  at  miracles,  and  ofttimes  small 
beginnings  have  large  endings. 

Seeing  that  we  have  to  attain  to  the  ministry  of  right- 
eousness in  all  things,  we  must  not  overlook  small  things 
in  goodness  or  in  badness,  for  "trifles  make  perfection," 
and  "the  little  foxes  .  .  .  spoil  the  vines." 

As  a  peculiar  people  whose  God  is  All-in-all,  let  us  say 
with  St.  Paul:   "We  faint  not;   but  have  renounced  the 


124  MISCELLANY 

hidden  things  of  dishonesty',  not  walking  in  craftiness, 
nor  handling  the  word  of  God  deceitfully;  but  by  mani- 
festation of  the  truth  commending  ourselves  to  every 
man's  conscience." 

Communion,  June  4,  1899 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  Looking  on  this  annual  assem- 
blage of  human  consciousness,  —  health,  harmony,  growth, 
grandeur,  and  achievement,  garlanded  with  glad  faces, 
willing  hands,  and  warm  hearts, — who  would  say  to-day, 
"What  a  fond  fool  is  hope"?  The  fruition  of  friendship, 
the  world's  arms  outstretched  to  us,  heart  meeting  heart 
across  continents  and  oceans,  bloodless  sieges  and  tear- 
less triumphs,  the  "well  done"  already  yours,  and  the 
undone  waiting  only  your  swift  hands,  —  these  are 
enough  to  make  this  hour  glad.  What  more  abounds 
and  abides  in  the  hearts  of  these  hearers  and  speakers, 
pen  may  not  tell. 

Nature  reflects  man  and  art  pencils  him,  but  it  remains 
for  Science  to  reveal  man  to  man ;  and  between  these  lines 
of  thought  is  written  in  luminous  letters,  O  man,  what 
art  thou?  Where  art  thou?  Whence  and  whither?  And 
what  shall  the  answer  be?  Expressive  silence,  or  with 
finger  pointing  upward,  —  Thither!  Then  produce  thy 
records,  time-table,  log,  traveller's  companion,  et  cetera, 
and  prove  fairly  the  facts  relating  to  the  thitherward,  — 
the  rate  of  speed,  the  means  of  travel,  and  the  number 
en  route.  Now  what  have  you  learned?  The  mystery 
of  godliness  —  God  made  "manifest  in  the  flesh,"  seen 
of  men,  and  spiritually  understood;  and  the  mystery  of 
iniquity  —  how  to  separate  the  tares  from  the  wheat, 
that    they   consume  in  their  own  fires  and  no  longer 


COMMUNION,   JUNE  4,    1899  125 

kindle  altars  for  human  sacrifice.  Have  you  learned  to 
conquer  sin,  false  affections,  motives,  and  aims,  —  to  be 
not  only  sayers  but  doers  of  the  law? 

Brethren,  our  annual  meeting  is  a  grave  guardian.  It 
requires  you  to  report  progress,  to  refresh  memory,  to 
rejuvenate  the  branches  and  to  vivify  the  buds,  to  bend 
upward  the  tendrils  and  to  incline  the  vine  towards  the 
parent  trunk.  You  come  from  feeding  your  flocks,  big 
with  promise;  and  you  come  with  the  sling  of  Israel's 
chosen  one  to  meet  the  Goliaths, 

I  have  only  to  dip  my  pen  in  my  heart  to  say,  All  honor 
to  the  members  of  our  Board  of  Lectureship  connected 
with  The  JNIother  Church.  Loyal  to  the  divine  Principle 
they  so  ably  vindicate,  they  earn  their  laurels.  History 
will  record  their  vyords,  and  their  works  will  follow 
them.  When  reading  their  lectures,  I  have  felt  the  touch 
of  the  spirit  of  the  Mars'  Hill  orator,  which  always 
thrills  the  soul. 

The  members  of  the  Board  of  Education,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College,  have 
acquitted  themselves  nobly.  The  students  in  my  last 
class  in  1898  are  stars  in  my  crown  of  rejoicing. 

We  are  deeply  grateful  that  the  church  militant  is 
looking  into  the  subject  of  Christian  Science,  for  Zion 
must  put  on  her  beautiful  garments  —  her  bridal  robes. 
The  hour  is  come;  the  bride  (Word)  is  adorned,  and  lo, 
the  bridegroom  cometh!  Are  our  lamps  trimmed  and 
burning? 

The  doom  of  the  Babylonish  woman,  referred  to  in  Reve- 
lation, is  being  fulfilled.  This  woman,  "drunken  with  the 
blood  of  the  saints,  and  with  the  blood  of  the  martyrs 
of  Jesus,"  "drunk  with  the  wine  of  her  fornication," 


126  MISCELLANY 

would  enter  even  the  church,  —  the  body  of  Christ,  Truth; 
and,  retaining  the  heart  of  the  harlot  and  the  purpose 
of  the  destroying  angel,  would  pour  wormwood  into  the 
waters  —  the  disturbed  human  mind  —  to  drown  the 
strong  swimmer  struggling  for  the  shore,  —  aiming  for 
Truth,  —  and  if  possible,  to  poison  such  as  drink  of  the 
living  water.  But  the  recording  angel,  standing  with 
"  right  foot  upon  the  sea,  and  his  left  foot  on  the  earth," 
has  in  his  hand  a  book  open  (ready  to  be  read),  which  un- 
covers and  kills  this  mystery  of  iniquity  and  interprets  the 
mystery  of  godliness,  —  how  the  first  is  finished  and  the 
second  is  no  longer  a  mystery  or  a  miracle,  but  a  marvel, 
casting  out  evil  and  healing  the  sick.  And  a  voice  was 
heard,  saying,  "Come  out  of  her,  my  people"  (hearken 
not  to  her  lies),  "  that  ye  receive  not  pf  her  plagues.  For 
her  sins  have  reached  unto  heaven,  and  God  hath  remem- 
bered her  iniquities  .  .  .  double  unto  her  double  accord- 
ing to  her  works:  in  the  cup  which  she  hath  filled  fill 
to  her  double  .  .  .  for  she  saith  in  her  heart,  I  .  .  .  am 
no  widow,  .  .  .  Therefore  shall  her  plagues  come  in  one 
day,  death,  and  mourning,  and  famine; ...  for  strong  is 
the  Lord  God  who  judgeth  her."  That  which  the  Rev- 
elator  saw  in  spiritual  vision  will  be  accomplished.  The 
Babylonish  woman  is  fallen,  and  who  should  mourn 
over  the  widowhood  of  lust,  of  her  that  "is  become  the 
habitation  of  devils,  and  the  hold  of  every  foul  spirit, 
and  a  cage  of  every  unclean  .  .  .  bird"? 

One  thing  is  eternally  here;  it  reigns  supreme  to-day, 
to-morrow,  forever.  We  need  it  in  our  homes,  at  our  fire- 
sides, on  our  altars,  for  with  it  win  we  the  race  of  the 
centuries.  We  have  it  only  as  we  live  it.  This  is  that 
needful  one  thing  —  divine  Science,  whereby  thought  is 


COMMUNION,  JUNE  4,    1899  127 

syiriiualized,  reaching  outward  and  upward  to  Science  in 
Christianity,  Science  in  medicine,  in  physics,  and  in 
metaphysics. 

Happy  are  the  people  whose  God  is  All-in-all,  who  ask 
only  to  be  judged  according  to  their  works,  who  live  to 
love.  We  thank  the  Giver  of  all  good  for  the  marvellous 
speed  of  the  chariot-wheels  of  Truth  and  for  the  steadfast, 
calm  coherence  in  the  ranks  of  Christian  Science. 

On  comparison,  it  will  be  found  that  Christian  Science 
possesses  more  of  Christ's  teachings  and  example  than 
all  other  religions  since  the  first  century.  Comparing 
our  scientific  system  of  metaphysical  therapeutics  with 
materia  medica,  we  find  that  divine  metaphysics  com- 
pletely overshadows  and  overwhelms  materia  medica,  even 
as  Aaron's  rod  swallowed  up  the  rods  of  the  magicians 
of  Egypt.  I  deliberately  declare  that  when  I  was  in  prac- 
tice, out  of  one  hundred  cases  I  healed  ninety-nine  to 
the  ten  of  materia  medica. 

We  should  thank  God  for  persecution  and  for  prosecu- 
tion, if  from  these  ensue  a  purer  Protestantism  and  mono- 
theism for  the  latter  days  of  the  nineteenth  century.  A 
siege  of  the  combined  centuries,  culminating  in  fierce  attack, 
cannot  demolish  our  strongholds.  The  forts  of  Christian 
Science,  garrisoned  by  God's  chosen  ones,  can  never  sur- 
render. Unlike  Russia's  armament,  ours  is  not  costly  as 
men  count  cost,  but  it  is  rich  beyond  price,  staunch  and 
indestructible  on  land  or  sea;  it  is  not  curtailed  in  peace, 
surrendered  in  conquest,  nor  laid  down  at  the  feet  of 
progress  through  the  hands  of  omnipotence.  And  why? 
Because  it  is  "  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men,"  — 
a  cover  and  a  defence  adapted  to  all  men,  all  nations, 
all   times,    climes,    and    races.    I    cannot    quench    my 


128  MISCELLANY 

desire  to  say  this;  and  wofds  are  not  vain  when  the 
depth  of  desire  can  find  no  other  outlet  to  liberty. 
"Therefore  ...  let  us  go  on  unto  perfection;  not  laying 
again  the  foundation  of  repentance  from  dead  works." 
(Hebrews  6:  1.) 

A  coroner's  inquest,  a  board  of  health,  or  class  legisla- 
tion is  less  than  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and 
infinitely  less  than  God's  benign  government,  which  is 
"  no  respecter  of  persons."  Truth  crushed  to  earth  springs 
spontaneously  upward,  and  whispers  to  the  breeze  man's 
inalienable  birthright  —  Liberty.  "  Where  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty."  God  is  everywhere.  No 
crown  nor  sceptre  nor  rulers  rampant  can  quench  the  vital 
heritage  of  freedom  —  man's  right  to  adopt  a  religion, 
to  employ  a  physician,  to  live  or  to  die  according  to  the 
dictates  of  his  own  rational  conscience  and  enlightened 
understanding.  Men  cannot  punish  a  man  for  suicide; 
God  does  that. 

Christian  Scientists  abide  by  the  laws  of  God  and  the 
laws  of  the  land;  and,  following  the  command  of  the 
Master,  they  go  into  all  the  world,  preaching  the  gospel 
and  healing  the  sick.  Therefore  be  wise  and  harmless,  for 
without  the  former  the  latter  were  impracticable,  A  lack 
of  wisdom  betrays  Truth  into  the  hands  of  evil  as  effec- 
tually as  does  a  subtle  conspirator;  the  motive  is  not  as 
wicked,  but  the  result  is  as  injurious.  Return  not  evil  for 
evil,  but  "overcome  evil  with  good."  Then,  whatever 
the  shaft  aimed  at  you  or  your  practice  may  be,  it  will 
fall  powerless,  and  God  will  reward  your  enemies  accord- 
ing to  their  works.  Watch,  and  pray  daily  that  evil 
suggestions,  in  whatever  guise,  take  no  root  in  your 
thought  nor  bear  fruit.    Ofttimes  examine  yourselves,  and 


COMMUNION,  JUNE  4,    1899  129 

see  if  there  be  found  anj^^here  a  deterrent  of  Truth  and 
Love,  and  "hold  fast  that  which  is  good." 

I  reluctantly  foresee  great  danger  threatening  our  na- 
tion, —  imperialism,  monopoly,  and  a  lax  system  of  relig- 
ion. But  the  spirit  of  humanity,  ethics,  and  Christianity 
sown  broadcast  —  all  concomitants  of  Christian  Science 

—  is  taking  strong  hold  of  the  public  thought  through- 
out our  beloved  country  and  in  foreign  lands,  and  is 
tending  to  counteract  the  trend  of  mad  ambition. 

There  is  no  night  but  in  God's  frown;  there  is  no  day 
but  in  His  smile.     The  oracular  skies,  the  verdant  earth 

—  bird,  brook,  blossom,  breeze,  and  balm  —  are  richly 
fraught  with  divine  reflection.  They  come  at  Love's  call. 
The  nod  of  Spirit  is  nature's  natal. 

And  how  is  man,  seen  through  the  lens  of  Spirit, 
enlarged,  and  how  counterpoised  his  origin  from  dust, 
and  how  he  presses  to  his  original,  never  severed 
from  Spirit!  O  ye  who  leap  disdainfully  from  this  rock 
of  ages,  return  and  plant  thy  steps  in  Christ,  Truth, 
"the  stone  which  the  builders  rejected"!  Then  will 
angels  administer  grace,  do  thy  errands,  and  be  thy 
dearest  allies.  The  divine  law  gives  to  man  health 
and  life  everlasting  —  gives  a  soul  to  Soul,  a  present 
harmony  wherein  the  good  man's  heart  takes  hold  on 
heaven,  and  whose  feet  can  never  be  moved.  These 
are  His  green  pastures  beside  still  waters,  where  faith 
mounts  upward,  expatiates,  strengthens,  and  exults. 

Lean  not  too  much  on  your  Leader.  Trust  God  to 
direct  your  steps.  Accept  my  counsel  and  teachings  only 
as  they  include  the  spirit  and  the  letter  of  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments, the  Beatitudes,  and  the  teachings  and 
example  of  Christ  Jesus.     Refrain  from  public  contro- 


130  MISCELLANY 

versy;  correct  the  false  with  the  true  —  then  leave  the 
latter  to  propagate.  Watch  and  guard  your  own  thoughts 
against  evil  suggestions  and  against  malicious  mental 
malpractice,  wholly  disloyal  to  the  teachings  of  Christian 
Science.  This  hidden  method  of  committing  crime  — 
socially,  physically,  and  morally  —  will  ere  long  be  un- 
earthed and  punished  as  it  deserves.  The  effort  of 
disloyal  students  to  blacken  me  and  to  keep  my  works 
from  public  recognition  —  students  seeking  only  public 
notoriety,  whom  I  have  assisted  pecuniarily  and  striven  to 
uplift  morally  —  has  been  made  too  many  times  and  has 
failed  too  often  for  me  to  fear  it.  The  spirit  of  Truth  is 
the  lever  which  elevates  mankind.  I  have  neither  the 
time  nor  the  inclination  to  be  continually  pursuing  a  lie 
—  the  one  evil  or  the  evil  one.  Therefore  I  ask  the  help 
of  others  in  this  matter,  and  I  ask  that  according  to 
the  Scriptures  my  students  reprove,  rebuke,  and  exhort. 
A  lie  left  to  itself  is  not  so  soon  destroyed  as  it  is  with 
the  help  of  truth-telling.  Truth  never  falters  nor  fails; 
it  is  our  faith  that  fails. 

All  published  quotations  from  my  works  must  have 
the  author's  name  added  to  them.  Quotation-marks  are 
not  sufficient.  Borrowing  from  my  copyrighted  works, 
without  credit,  is  inadmissible.  But  I  need  not  say  this 
to  the  loyal  Christian  Scientist  —  to  him  who  keeps 
the  commandments.  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to 
the  Scriptures"  has  an  enormous  strain  put  upon  it, 
being  used  as.  a  companion  to  the  Bible  in  all  your 
public  ministrations,  as  teacher  and  as  the  embodiment 
and  substance  of  the  truth  that  is  taught;  hence 
my  request,  that  you  borrow  little  else  from  it,  should 
seem  reasonable. 


ADDRESS,   JUNE  6,   1899  131 

Beloved,  that  which  purifies  the  affections  also  strength- 
ens them,  removes  fear,  subdues  sin,  and  endues  with 
divine  power;  that  which  refines  character  at  the  same 
time  humbles,  exalts,  and  commands  a  man,  and  obedience 
gives  him  courage,  devotion,  and  attainment.  For  this 
hour,  for  this  period,  for  spiritual  sacrament,  sacrifice, 
and  ascension,  we  unite  in  giving  thanks.  For  the  body 
of  Christ,  for  the  life  that  we  commemorate  and  would 
emulate,  for  the  bread  of  heaven  whereof  if  a  man  eat 
"he  shall  live  forever,"  for  the  cup  red  with  loving  resti- 
tution, redemption,  and  inspiration,  we  give  thanks.  The 
signet  of  the  great  heart,  given  to  me  in  a  little  symbol, 
seals  the  covenant  of  everlasting  love.  May  apostate 
praise  return  to  its  first  love,  above  the  symbol  seize  the 
spirit,  speak  the  "new  tongue"  —  and  may  thought  soar 
and  Soul  be. 

Address  at  Annual  Meeting,  June  6,  1899 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  found 
disorderly,  but  I  wish  to  say  briefly  that  this  meeting  is 
very  joyous  to  me.  Where  God  is  we  can  meet,  and  where 
God  is  we  can  never  part.  There  is  something  suggestive 
to  me  in  this  hour  of  the  latter  days  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  fulfilling  much  of  the  divine  law  and  the  gospel. 
The  divine  law  has  said  to  us :  "  Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into 
the  storehouse,  that  there  may  be  meat  in  mine  house, 
and  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  if  I 
will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  you 
out  a  blessing,  that  there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to 
receive  it." 

There  is  with  us  at  this  hour  this  great,  great  blessing; 
and  may  I  say  with  the  consciousness  of  Mind  that  the 


132  MISCELLANY 

fulfilment  of  divine  Love  in  our  lives  is  the  demand  of 
this  hour  —  the  special  demand.  We  begin  with  the  law 
as  just  announced,  "  Prove  me  now  herewith,  ...  if  I  will 
not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  you  out  a 
blessing,"  and  we  go  to  the  Gospels,  and  there  we  hear: 
"In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation;  but  be  of  good 
cheer;  I  have  overcome  the  world." 

The  Christian  Scientist  knows  that  spiritual  faith  and 
understanding  pass  through  the  waters  of  Meribah  here  — 
bitter  waters;  but  he  also  knows  they  embark  for  infinity 
and  anchor  in  omnipotence. 

Oh,  may  this  hour  be  prolific,  and  at  this  time  and  in 
every  heart  may  there  come  this  benediction :  Thou  hast 
no  longer  to  appeal  to  human  strength,  to  strive  with 
agony;  I  am  thy  deliverer.  "  Of  His  own  will  begat  He  us 
with  the  word  of  truth."  Divine  Love  has  strengthened 
the  hand  and  encouraged  the  heart  of  every  member  of  this 
large  church.  Oh,  may  these  rich  blessings  continue  and 
be  increased!  Divine  Love  hath  opened  the  gate  Beau- 
tiful to  us,  where  we  may  see  God  and  live,  see  good  in 
good,  —  God  all,  one,  —  one  Mind  and  that  divine;  where 
we  may  love  our  neighbor  as  ourselves,  and  bless  our 
enemies. 

Divine  Love  will  also  rebuke  and  destroy  disease,  and 
destroy  the  belief  of  life  in  matter.  It  will  waken  the 
dreamer — the  sinner, dreaming  of  pleasure  in  sin;  the  sick, 
dreaming  of  suffering  matter;  the  slothful,  satisfied  to 
sleep  and  dream.  Divine  Love  is  our  only  physician, 
and  never  loses  a  case.  It  binds  up  the  broken-hearted; 
heals  the  poor  body,  whose  whole  head  is  sick  and  whose 
whole  heart  is  faint;  comforts  such  as  mourn,  wipes  away 
the  unavailing,  tired  tear,  brings  back  the  wanderer  to 


LETTER  OF  THE  PASTOR  EMERITUS     133 

the  Father's  house  in  which  are  many  mansions,  many 
welcomes,  many  pardons  for  the  penitent. 

Ofttimes  I  think  of  this  in  the  great  hght  of  the  present, 
the  might  and  Ught  of  the  present  fulfilment.  So  shall 
all  earth's  children  at  last  come  to  acknowledge  God,  and 
be  one;  inhabit  His  holy  hill,  the  God-crowned  summit 
of  divine  Science;  the  church  militant  rise  to  the  church 
triumphant,  and  Zion  be  glorified. 

A  Question  Answered 

My  beloved  church  will  not  receive  a  Message  from 
me  this  summer,  for  my  annual  IMessage  is  swallowed 
up  in  sundries  already  given  out.  These  crumbs  and 
monads  will  feed  the  hungry,  and  the  fragments  gathered 
therefrom  should  waken  the  sleep>er,  —  "  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins,"  —  set  the  captive  sense  free  from  self's 
sordid  sequela;  and  one  more  round  of  old  Sol  give  birth 
to  the  sowing  of  Solomon. 

Mary  Baker  Eddt. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
May  11,  1903. 

Letter  of  the  Pastor  Emeritus,  June,  1903 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  I  have  a  secret  to  tell  you  and 
a  question  to  ask.  Do  you  know  how  much  I  love  you 
and  the  nature  of  this  love?  No:  then  my  sacred  secret 
is  incommunicable,  and  we  live  apart.  But,  yes:  and 
this  inmost  something  becomes  articulate,  and  my  book 
is  not  all  you  know  of  me.  But  your  knowledge  with 
its  magnitude  of  meaning  uncovers  my  life,  even  as 
your  heart  has  discovered  it.     The   spiritual  bespeaks 


134  MISCELLANY 

our  temporal  historj',  Diffibulty,  abnegation,  constant 
battle  against  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  e\'il,  tell  my  long- 
kept  secret  —  evidence  a  heart  wholly  in  protest  and 
miutterable  in  love. 

The  unprecedented  progress  of  Christian  Science  is  pro- 
verbial, and  we  cannot  be  too  grateful  nor  too  humble  for 
this,  inasmuch  as  our  daily  lives  serve  to  enhance  or  to 
stay  its  glorj'.  To  triumph  in  truth,  to  keep  the  faith 
individually  and  collectively,  conflicting  elements  must 
be  mastered.  Defeat  need  not  follow  victory.  Joy  over 
good  achievements  and  work  well  done  should  not 
be  echpsed  by  some  lost  opportunity,  some  imperative 
demand  not  yet  met. 

Truth,  Life,  and  Love  will  never  lose  their  claim  on  us. 
And  here  let  me  add :  — 

Truth  happifies  life  in  the  hamlet  or  town; 
Life  lessens  all  pride  —  its  pomp  and  its  frown  — 
Love  comes  to  our  tears  like  a  soft  summer  shower. 
To  beautify,  bless,  and  inspire  man's  power. 

A  Letter  from  Mrs.  Eddt 

At  the  Wednesday  evening  meeting  of  April  3,  1907, 
in  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston,  the 
First  Reader,  Mr.  William  D.  McCrackan,  read  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy.  In  announcing  this  letter, 
he  said :  — 

"  Permission  has  been  secured  from  our  beloved  Leader 
to  read  you  a  letter  from  her  to  me.  This  letter  is  in 
Mrs.  Eddy's  own  handwriting,  with  which  I  have  been 
familiar  for  several  years,  and  it  shows  her  usual  mental 
and  physical  vigor." 


LETTER  TO  THE  MOTHER  CHURCH     135 

MRS.   eddy's  letter 

Beloted  Student:  —  The  wise  man  has  said,  "When  I 
was  a  child,  I  spake  as  a  child,  I  understood  as  a  child, 
I  thought  as  a  child:  but  when  I  became  a  man,  I  put 
away  childish  things."  That  this  passage  of  Scripture 
and  its  concluding  declaration  may  be  appUed  to  old  age, 
is  a  solace. 

Perhaps  you  already  know  that  I  have  heretofore  per- 
sonally attended  to  my  secular  affairs,  —  to  my  income, 
investments,  deposits,  expenditures,  and  to  my  employ- 
ees. But  the  increasing  demands  upon  my  time  and 
labor,  and  my  yearning  for  more  peace  in  my  advancing 
years,  have  caused  me  to  select  a  Board  of  Trustees  to 
take  the  charge  of  my  property;  namely,  the  Hon.  Henry 
M.  Baker,  Mr.  Archibald  McLellan,  and  Mr.  Josiah  E. 
Femald. 

As  you  are  the  First  Reader  of  my  church  in  Boston, 
of  about  forty  thousand  members,  I  inform  you  of  this, 
the  aforesaid  transaction. 

Lo\'ingly  yours  in  Christ, 

iNLuiY  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
March  22,  1907. 

Letter  to  The  Mother  Church 
The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Soentist,  Boston,  Mass. 

My  Beloved  Church :  —  Your  love  and  fidelity  cheer  my 
advancing  years.  As  Christian  Scientists  you  under- 
stand the  Scripture,  "Fret  not  thyself  because  of  evil- 
doers;" also  you  spiritually  and  scientifically  understand 
that  God  is  divine  Love,  onmipotent,  omnipresent,  in- 


136  MISCELLANY 

finite;  hence  it  is  enough  for  you  and  me  to  know  that 
our  "Redeemer  hveth"  and  intercedeth  for  us. 

At  this  period  my  demonstration  of  Christian  Science 
cannot  be  fully  understood,  theoretically;  therefore 
it  is  best  explained  by  its  fruits,  and  by  the  life  of 
our  Lord  as  depicted  in  the  chapter  Atonement  and 
Eucharist,  in   "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 

S^"P*"'^'-"  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
April  2,  1907. 

Card 

I  am  pleased  to  say  that  the  following  members  con- 
stitute the  Board  of  Trustees  who  own  my  property:  — 

1.  The  Hon.  Henry  M.  Baker,  who  won  a  suit  at 
law  in  Washington,  D.  C,  for  which  it  is  alleged  he 
was  paid  the  highest  fee  ever  received  by  a  native  of 
New  Hampshire. 

2.  Archibald  McLellan,  editor-in-chief  of  the  Christian 
Science  periodicals,  circulating  in  the  five  grand  divisions 
of  our  globe;  also  in  Canada,  Australia,  etc. 

3.  Josiah  E.  Fernald,  justice  of  the  peace  and  president 
of  the  National  State  Capital  Bank,  Concord,  N.  H. 

To  my  aforesaid  Trustees  I  have  committed  the  hard 
earnings  of  my  pen,  —  the  fruits  of  honest  toil,  the  labor 
that  is  known  by  its  fruits,  —  benefiting  the  human  race; 
and  I  have  so  done  that  I  may  have  more  peace,  and  time 
for  spiritual  thought  and  the  higher  criticism. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
April  3,  1907. 


MRS.   EDDY'S  AFFIDAVIT  137 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Affidavit 

The  following  affidavit,  in  the  form  of  a  letter  from 
Mrs.  Eddy  to  Judge  Robert  N.  Chamberlin  of  the  Superior 
Court,  was  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Court, 
Saturday,  May  18.  The  Boston  Globe,  referring  to  this 
document,  speaks  of  it  as,  "in  the  main,  an  example  of 
crisp,  clear,  plain-speaking  English."  The  entire  letter  is 
in  Mrs.  Eddy's  own  handwriting  and  is  characteristic  in 
both  substance  and  penmanship :  — 

Hon.  Judge  Chamberun,  Concord,  N.  H» 

Respected  Sir :  —  It  is  over  forty  years  that  I  have 
attended  personally  to  my  secular  affairs,  to  my  in- 
come, investments,  deposits,  expenditures,  and  to  my 
employees.  I  have  personally  selected  all  my  invest- 
ments, except  in  one  or  two  instances,  and  have  paid  for 
the  same. 

The  increasing  demands  upon  my  time,  labors,  and 
thought,  and  yearning  for  more  peace  and  to  have  my 
property  and  affairs  carefully  taken  care  of  for  the 
persons  and  purposes  I  have  designated  by  my  last  will, 
influenced  me  to  select  a  Board  of  Trustees  to  take  charge 
of  my  property;  namely,  the  Hon.  Henry  M.  Baker, 
Mr.  Archibald  McLellan,  Mr,  Josiah  E.  Fernald.  I 
had  contemplated  doing  this  before  the  present  proceed- 
ings were  brought  or  I  knew  aught  about  them,  and  I 
had  consulted  Lawyer  Streeter  about  the  method. 

I  selected  said  Trustees  because  I  had  implicit  con- 
fidence in  each  one  of  them  as  to  honesty  and  business 
capacity.  No  person  influenced  me  to  make  this  selec- 
tion.   I  find  myself  able  to  select  the  Trustees  I   need 


138  MISCELLANY 

without  the  help  of  others.  I  gave  them  my  property  to 
take  care  of  because  I  wanted  it  protected  and  myself 
relieved  of  the  burden  of  doing  this.  They  have  agreed 
with  me  to  take  care  of  my  property  and  I  consider  this 
agreement  a  great  benefit  to  me  already. 

This  suit  was  brought  without  my  knowledge  and  is 
being  carried  on  contrary  to  my  wishes.  I  feel  that  it 
is  not  for  my  benefit  in  any  way,  but  for  my  injury, 
and  I  know  it  was  not  needed  to  protect  my  person  or 
property.  The  present  proceedings  test  my  trust  in 
divine  Love.  My  personal  reputation  is  assailed  and 
some  of  my  students  and  trusted  personal  friends  are 
cruelly,  unjustly,  and  wrongfully  accused. 

Mr.  Calvin  A.  Frye  and  other  students  often  ask  me 
to  receive  persons  whom  I  desire  to  see  but  decline  to 
receive  solely  because  I  find  that  I  cannot  "serve  two 
masters."  I  cannot  be  a  Christian  Scientist  except  I 
leave  all  for  Christ. 

Trusting  that  I  have  not  exceeded  the  bounds  of  pro- 
priety in  the  statements  herein  made  by  me, 

I  remain  most  respectfully  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H,, 
May  16,  1907. 

State  of  New  HAMPsmRE,  Merrimack,  ss. 

On  this  sixteenth  day  of  May,  1907,  personally  appeared 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  and  made  oath  that  the  statements 
contained  in  the  annexed  letter  directed  to  Honorable 
Judge  Chamberlin  and  dated  May  16,  1907,  are  true. 
Before  me:  Allen  Hollis, 

Justice  of  the  Peace. 


A  WORD  TO  THE  WISE  139 


NoTA  Bene 

Beloved  Students :  —  Rest  assured  that  your  Leader  is 
living,  loxdng,  acting,  enjoying.  She  is  neither  dead  nor 
plucked  up  by  the  roots,  but  she  is  keenly  alive  to  the 
reality  of  Uving,  and  safely,  soulfully  founded  upon 
the  rock,  Christ  Jesus,  even  the  spiritual  idea  of  Life, 
wath  its  abounding,  increasing,  advancing  footsteps  of 
progress,  primeval  faith,  hope,  love. 

Like  the  verdure  and  evergreen  that  flourish  when 
trampled  upon,  the  Christian  Scientist  thrives  in  adver- 
sity; his  is  a  life-lease  of  hope,  home,  heaven;  his  idea 
is  nearing  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life,  when  mis- 
represented, belied,  and  trodden  upon.  Justice,  honesty, 
cannot  be  abjured ;  their  vitality  involves  Life,  —  calm, 
irresistible,  eternal. 

A  Word  to  the  Wise 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  When  I  asked  you  to  dispense 
with  the  Executive  Members'  meeting,  the  purpose  of  my 
request  was  sacred.  It  was  to  turn  your  sense  of  worship 
from  the  material  to  the  spiritual,  the  personal  to  the 
impersonal,  the  denominational  to  the  doctrinal,  yea, 
from  the  human  to  the  divine. 

Already  you  have  advanced  from  the  audible  to  the 
inaudible  prayer;  from  the  material  to  the  spiritual 
communion;  from  drugs  to  Deity;  and  you  have  been 
greatly  recompensed.  Rejoice  and  be  exceedingly  glad, 
for  so  doth  the  divine  Love  redeem  your  body  from  dis- 
ease; your  being  from  sensuality;  your  soul  from  sense; 
your  life  from  death. 


140  MISCELLANY 

Of  this  abounding  and  abiding  spiritual  understand- 
ing the  prophet  Isaiah  said,  "And  I  will  bring  the  bhnd 
by  a  way  that  they  knew  not;  I  will  lead  them  in 
paths  that  they  have  not  known:  I  will  make  dark- 
ness light  before  them,  and  crooked  things  straight. 
These   things   will   I    do   unto   them,   and   not   forsake 

them." 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Chkstnut  Hill,  Mass. 

[Boston  Globe] 

Abolishing  the  Communion 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  Christian  Scientists  the  Rev. 
Mary  Baker  Eddy  explains  that  dropping  the  annual  com- 
munion service  of  The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
in  Boston,  need  not  debar  distant  members  from  attend- 
ing occasionally  The  Mother  Church.  The  following  is 
Mrs.  Eddy's  letter:  — 

Beloved  Christian  Scientists :  —  Take  courage.  God  is 
leading  you  onward  and  upward.  Relinquishing  a  ma- 
terial form  of  communion  advances  it  spiritually. 
The  material  form  is  a  "Suffer  it  to  be  so  now,"  and 
is  abandoned  so  soon  as  God's  Way -shower,  Christ, 
points  the  advanced  step.  This  instructs  us  how  to 
be  abased  and  how  to  abound. 

Dropping  the  communion  of  The  Mother  Church 
does  not  prevent  its  distant  members  from  occasionally 
attending  this  church. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 
June  21,  1908. 


COMMUNION  SEASON  IS  ABOLISHED     141 

[Boston  Globe] 

Communion  Season  is  Abolished 

The  general  communion  service  of  the  Christian  Science 
denomination,  held  annually  in  The  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  in  this  city,  has  been  abolished  by 
order  of  Mrs.  Mary  Baket  Eddy.  The  services  attended 
last  Sunday  [June  14]  by  ten  thousand  persons  were  thus 
the  last  to  be  held.  Of  late  years  members  of  the  church 
outside  of  Boston  have  not  been  encouraged  to  attend  the 
communion  seasons  except  on  the  triennial  gatherings, 
the  next  of  which  would  have  been  held  next  year. 

The  announcement  in  regard  to  the  services  was  made 
last  night  [June  21]  by  Alfred  Farlow  of  the  pubhcation 
committee  as  follows:  — 

The  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston,  has 
taken  steps  to  abohsh  its  famous  communion  seasons. 
In  former  years,  the  annual  communion  season  of  the 
Boston  church  has  offered  an  occasion  for  the  gathering 
of  vast  multitudes  of  Christian  Scientists  from  all  parts 
of  the  world.  According  to  the  following  statement,  which 
Mrs.  Eddy  has  just  given  out  to  the  press,  these  gather- 
ings will  be  discontinued :  — 

"  The  house  of  The  Mother  Church  seats  only  five  thou- 
sand people,  and  its  membership  includes  forty-eight 
thousand  communicants,  hence  the  following :  — 

"The  branch  churches  continue  their  communion  sea- 
sons, but  there  shall  be  no  more  communion  season  in 
The  Mother  Church  that  has  blossomed  into  spiritual 
beauty,   communion   universal   and    divine.     'For  who 


142  MISCELLANY 

hath  known  the  mind  of  the  Lord,  that  he  may  instruct 
him?  But  we  have  the  mind  of  Christ.'  (1  Corinthians, 
2  :  16.)  " 

[Mrs.  Eddy  has  only  aboHshed  the  disappointment  of 
communicants  who  come  long  distances  and  then  find  no 
seats  in  The  Mother  Church.  —  Editor  Serdinel] 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 

Judge  Cufford  P.  Smith,  LL.B.,  C.S.B., 

First  Reader,  The  Mother  Church,  Boston,  Mass. 

Beloved  Christian  Scientist :  —  Accept  my  thanks  for 
3'our  approval  of  abolishing  the  communion  season  of 
The  Mother  Church.  I  sought  God's  guidance  in  doing 
it,  but  the  most  important  events  are  criticized. 

The  Mother  Church  communion  season  was  liter- 
ally a  communion  of  branch  church  communicants 
which  might  in  time  lose  its  sacredness  and  merge  into 
a  meeting  for  greetings.  My  beloved  brethren  may 
some  time  learn  this  and  rejoice  with  me,  as  they  so 
often  have  done,  over  a  step  higher  in  their  passage 
from  sense  to  Soul. 

Most  truly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
June  24,  1908. 

The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors 

Beloved  Students :  —  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  invi- 
tation to  be  present  at  the  annual  meeting  of  The 
Mother   Church   on   June   7,   1909.     I  will   attend  the 


MRS.   EDDY'S  STATEMENTS  143 

meeting,  but  not  in  j)ropna  persona.     Watch  and  pray 

that  God  directs  your  meetings  and  your  hves,  and  your 

Leader  will  then  be  sure  that  they  are  blessed  in  their 

results.  T      •     1 

Lovingly  yours, 

Brookline,  Mass.,  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

June  5,  1909. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Statements 

To  Whom  It  May  Concern :  —  I  have  the  pleasure  to 
report  to  one  and  all  of  my  beloved  friends  and  followers 
that  I  exist  in  the  flesh,  and  am  seen  daily  by  the  mem- 
bers of  my  household  and  by  those  with  whom  I  have 
appointments. 

Above  all  this  fustian  of  either  denying  or  asserting  the 
personality  and  presence  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  stands 
the  eternal  fact  of  Christian  Science  and  the  honest  history 
of  its  Discoverer  and  Founder.  It  is  self-evident  that 
the  discoverer  of  an  eternal  truth  cannot  be  a  temporal 
fraud. 

The  Cause  of  Christian  Science  is  prospering  through- 
out the  world  and  stands  forever  as  an  eternal  and  de- 
monstrable Science,  and  I  do  not  regard  this  attack  upon 
me  as  a  trial,  for  when  these  things  cease  to  bless  they 
will  cease  to  occur. 

"And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good 

to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are   the    called 

according  to  His  purpose.  .  .  .  What  shall  we  then  say 

to  these  things?     If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against 

us'" 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 

June  7,  1909. 


144  MISCELLANY 

Mrs.  Eddy  also  sent  the  following  letter  to  the  mem- 
bers of  her  church  in  Concord,  N.  H. :  — 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Concord,  N.  H. 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  Give  yourselves  no  fear  and 
spare  not  a  moment's  thought  to  lies  afloat  that  I  am  sick, 
helpless,  or  an  invalid.  The  public  report  that  I  am  in 
either  of  the  aforesaid  conditions  is  utterly  false. 

With  love,  ever  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
June  7,  1909. 


CHAPTER  V 

CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  HALL,  CONCORD,  N.  H. 
In  Retrospect 

MY  Dear  Editors:  —  You  are  by  this  time  ac- 
quainted with  the  small  item  that  in  October,  1897, 
I  proposed  to  one  of  Concord's  best  builders  the  plan  for 
'Christian  Science  Hall  in  Concord,  N.  H.  He  drew  the 
plan,  showed  it  to  me,  and  I  accepted  it.  From  that 
time,  October  29,  1897,  until  the  remodelling  of  the  house 
was  finished,  I  inspected  the  work  every  day,  suggested 
the  details  outside  and "  inside  from  the  foundations  to 
the  tower,  and  saw  them  carried  out.  One  day  the  car- 
penters' foreman  said  to  me:  "I  want  to  be  let  off  for 
a  few  days.  I  do  not  feel  able  to  keep  about.  I  am 
feeling  an  old  ailment  my  mother  had."  I  healed  him 
on  the  spot.  He  remained  at  work,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing said  to  Mr.  George  H.  Moore  of  Concord,  "I  am  as 
well  as  I  ever  was." 

Within  the  past  year  and  two  months,  I  have  worked 
even  harder  than  usual,  but  I  cannot  go  upon  the  plat- 
form and  still  be  at  home  attending  to  the  machinery 
which  keeps  the  wheels  revolving.  This  well-known 
fact  makes  me  the  servant  of  the  race  —  and  gladly 
thus,  if  in  this  way  I  can  serve  equally  my  friends  and 
my  enemies. 

145 


146  MISCELLANY 

In  explanation  of  my  dedicatory  letter  to  the  Chicago 
church  (seepage  177),  I  will  say:  It  is  understood  by  all 
Christians  that  Jesus  spoke  the  truth.  He  said:  "They 
shall  take  up  serpents;  and  if  they  drink  any  deadly 
thing,  it  shall  not  hurt  them."  I  believe  this  saying 
because  I  understand  it,  but  its  verity  has  not  been 
acknowledged  since  the  third  century. 

The  statement  in  my  letter  to  the  church  in  Chicago, 
in  substance  as  follows,  has  been  quoted  and  criticized: 
"If  wisdom  lengthens  my  sum  of  years  to  fourscore,  I 
may  then  be  even  younger  than  now." 

Few  believe  this  saying.  Few  believe  that  Christian 
Science  contains  infinitely  more  than  has  been  demon- 
strated, or  that  the  altitude  of  its  highest  propositions  has 
not  yet  been  reached.  The  heights  o'f  the  great  Naza- 
rene's  sayings  are  not  fully  scaled.  Yet  his  immortal 
words  and  my  poor  prophecy,  if  they  are  true  at  all,  are 
as  true  to-day  as  they  will  be  to-morrow.  I  am  convinced 
of  the  absolute  truth  of  his  sayings  and  of  their  present 
application  to  mankind,  and  I  am  equally  sure  that  what 
I  wrote  is  true,  although  it  has  not  been  demonstrated 
in  this  age. 

Christian  Scientists  hold  as  a  vital  point  that  the  beliefs 
of  mortals  tip  the  scale  of  being,  morally  and  physically, 
either  in  the  right  or  in  the  wrong  direction.  Therefore 
a  Christian  Scientist  never  mentally  or  audibly  takes 
the  side  of  sin,  disease,  or  death.  Others  who  take  the 
side  of  error  do  it  ignorantly  or  maliciously.  The  Chris- 
tian Scientist  voices  the  harmonious  and  eternal,  and 
nothing  else.  He  lays  his  whole  weight  of  thought, 
tongue,  and  pen  in  the  divine  scale  of  being  —  for 
health  and   holiness. 


SECOND  SUNDAY  SERVICE  147 

Second  Sunday  Service,  December  12,  1897 

Friends  and  Brethren :  —  There  are  moments  when  at 
the  touch  of  memory  the  past  comes  forth  hke  a  pageant 
and  the  present  is  prophetic.  Over  a  half  century  ago, 
between  the  morning  and  afternoon  services  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church,  the  grand  old  elm  on  North  State 
Street  flung  its  foliage  in  kindly  shelter  over  my  child- 
hood's Sunday  noons.  And  now,  at  this  distant  day,  I 
have  provided  for  you  a  modest  hall,  in  which  to  assemble 
as  a  sort  of  Christian  Science  kindergarten  for  teaching 
the  "new  tongue"  of  the  gospel  with  "signs  following," 
of  which  St.  Mark  prophesies. 

j\Iay  this  little  sanctum  be  preserved  sacred  to  the 
memory  of  this  pure  purpose,  and  subserve  it.  Let 
the  Bible  and  the  Christian  Science  textbook  preach  the 
gospel  which  heals  the  sick  and  enlightens  the  people's 
sense  of  Christian  Science.  This  ministry,  reaching  the 
physical,  moral,  and  spiritual  needs  of  humanity,  will, 
in  the  name  of  Almighty  God,  speak  the  truth  that 
to-day,  as  in  olden  time,  is  found  able  to  heal  both  sin 
and  disease. 

I  have  purchased  a  pleasant  place  for  you,  and  prepared 
for  your  use  work-rooms  and  a  little  hall,  which  are  already 
dedicated  to  Christ's  service,  since  Christian  Scientists 
never  stop  ceremoniously  to  dedicate  halls.  I  shall  be 
with  you  personally  very  seldom.  I  have  a  work  to  do 
that,  in  the  words  of  oiu*  Master,  "ye  know  not  of." 
From  the  interior  of  Africa  to  the  utmost  parts  of  the  earth, 
the  sick  and  the  heavenly  homesick  or  hungry  hearts  are 
calling  on  me  for  help,  and  I  am  helping  them.  You  have 
less  need  of  me  than  have  they,  and  you  must  not  expect 


148  MISCELLANY 

me  further  to  do  your  pioneer' work  in  this  city.  Faithfully 
and  more  than  ever  persistently,  you  are  now,  through 
the  providence  of  God,  called  to  do  your  part  wisely  and 
to  let  your  faith  be  known  by  your  works.  All  that  we 
ask  of  any  people  is  to  judge  our  doctrine  by  its  fruits. 
May  the  good  folk  of  Concord  have  this  opportunity, 
and  may  the  God  of  all  grace,  truth,  and  love  be  and  abide 
with  vou  henceforth. 


Address  to  the  Concord  Church,  February,  1899 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  In  the  annals  of  our  denomina- 
tion this  church  becomes  historic,  having  completed 
its  organization  February  22  —  Washington's  birthday. 
Memorable  date,  all  unthought  of  till  the  day  had  passed! 
Then  we  beheld  the  omen,  —  religious  liberty,  —  the 
Father  of  the  universe  and  the  father  of  our  nation  in 
concurrence. 

To-day,  with  the  large  membership  of  seventy-four  com- 
municants, you  have  met  to  praise  God.  I,  as  usual  at 
home  and  alone,  am  with  you  in  spirit,  joining  in  your 
rejoicing,  and  my  heart  is  asking:  What  are  the  angels  say- 
ing or  singing  of  this  dear  little  flock,  and  what  is  each 
heart  in  this  house  repeating,  and  what  is  being  recorded 
of  this  meeting  as  with  the  pen  of  an  angel? 

Bear  in  mind  always  that  Christianity  is  not  alone  a 
gift,  but  that  it  is  a  growth  Christward;  it  is  not  a  creed 
or  dogma, — a  philosophical  phantasm, — nor  the  opinions 
of  a  sect  struggling  to  gain  power  over  contending  sects 
and  scourging  the  sect  in  advance  of  it.  Christianity  is 
the  summons  of  divine  Love  for  man  to  be  Christlike — 
to  emulate  the  words  and  the  works  of  our  great  Master. 


ADDRESS,   FEBRUARY,    1899  149 

To  attain  to  these  works,  men  must  know  somewhat  of 
the  divine  Principle  of  Jesus'  Hfe-work,  and  must  prove 
their  knowledge  by  doing  as  he  bade :  "  Go,  and  do  thou 
likewise." 

We  know  Principle  only  through  Science.  The  Prin- 
ciple of  Christ  is  divine  Love,  resistless  Life  and  Truth. 
Then  the  Science  of  the  Principle  must  be  Christlike, 
or  Christian  Science.  More  than  regal  is  the  majesty 
of  the  meekness  of  the  Christ-principle;  and  its  might  is 
the  ever-flowing  tides  of  truth  that  sweep  the  universe, 
create  and  govern  it;  and  its  radiant  stores  of  knowl- 
edge are  the  mysteries  of  exhaustless  being.  Seek  ye 
these  till  you  make  their  treasures  yours. 

When  a  young  man  vainly  boasted,  "I  am  wise,  for  I 
have  conversed  with  many  wise  men,"  Epictetus  made 
answer,  "And  I  with  many  rich  men,  but  I  am  not  rich." 
The  richest  blessings  are  obtained  by  labor.  A  vessel 
full  must  be  emptied  before  it  can  be  refilled.  Lawyers 
may  know  too  much  of  human  law  to  have  a  clear  per- 
ception of  diNane  justice,  and  divines  be  too  deeply  read 
in  scholastic  theology  to  appreciate  or  to  demonstrate 
Christian  charity.  Losing  the  comprehensive  in  the 
technical,  the  Principle  in  its  accessories,  cause  in  effect, 
and  faith  in  sight,  we  lose  the  Science  of  Christianity,  — 
a  predicament  quite  like  that  of  the  man  who  could  not 
see  London  for  its  houses. 

Clouds  parsimonious  of  rain,  that  swing  in  the  sky  with 
dumb  thunderbolts,  are  seen  and  forgotten  in  the  same 
hour;  while  those  with  a  mighty  rush,  which  waken  the 
stagnant  waters  and  solicit  every  root  and  every  leaf  with 
the  treasures  of  rain,  ask  no  praising.  Remember,  thou 
canst  be  brought  into  no  condition,  be  it  ever  so  severe, 


150  MISCELLANY 

where  Love  has  not  been  before  thee  and  where  its  tender 
lesson  is  not  awaiting  thee.  Therefore  despair  not  nor 
murmur,  for  that  which  seeketh  to  save,  to  heal,  and  to 
deliver,  will  guide  thee,  if  thou  seekest  this  guidance. 

riiny  gives  the  following  description  of  the  character  of 
true  greatness:  "Doing  what  deserves  to  be  written,  and 
writing  what  deserves  to  be  read ;  and  rendering  the  world 
happier  and  better  for  having  lived  in  it."  Strive  thou 
for  the  joy  and  crown  of  such  a  pilgrimage  —  the  service 
of  such  a  mission. 

A  heart  touched  and  hallowed  by  one  chord  of  Christian 
Science,  can  accomplish  the  full  scale;  but  this  heart  must 
be  honest  and  in  earnest  and  never  weary  of  struggling  to 
be  perfect  —  to  reflect  the  divine  Life,  Truth,  and  Love. 

Stand  by  the  limpid  lake,  sleeping  amid  willowy  banks 
dyed  \\ith  emerald.  See  therein  the  mirrored  sky  and  the 
moon  ablaze  with  her  mild  glory.  This  will  stir  your 
heart.  Then,  in  speechless  prayer,  ask  God  to  enable  you 
to  reflect  God,  to  become  His  own  image  and  likeness, 
even  the  calm,  clear,  radiant  reflection  of  Christ's  glory, 
healing  the  sick,  bringing  the  sinner  to  repentance,  and 
raising  the  spiritually  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  to  life 
in  God.  Jesus  said:  "If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words 
abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be 
done  unto  you." 

Beloved  in  Christ,  what  our  Master  said  unto  his 
disciples,  when  he  sent  them  forth  to  heal  the  sick  and 
preach  the  gospel,  I  say  unto  you :  "  Be  ye  therefore  wise 
as  serpents,  and  harmless  as  doves."  Then,  if  the  wis- 
dom you  manifest  causes  Christendom  or  the  disclaimer 
against  God  to  call  this  "a  subtle  fraud,"  "let  your  peace 
return  to  you." 


MESSAGE,   APRIL   19,    1899  151 

I  am  patient  with  the  newspaper  wares  and  the 
present  schoolboy  epithets  and  attacks  of  a  portion  of 
Christendom: 

(1)  Because  I  sympathize  with  their  ignorance  of 
Christian  Science: 

(2)  Because  I  know  that  no  Christian  can  or  does 
understand  this  Science  and  not  love  it: 

(3)  Because  these  attacks  afford  opportunity  for  ex- 
plaining Christian  Science: 

(4)  Because  it  is  written:  "The  wrath  of  man  shall 
praise  Thee:  the  remainder  of  wrath  shalt  Thou  restrain." 

Rest  assured  that  the  injustice  done  by  press  and  pulpit 
to  this  denomination  of  Christians  will  cease,  when  it  no 
longer  blesses  this  denomination.  "This  I  know;  for  God 
is  for  me"  (Psalms).  And  in  the  words  of  St.  Paul,  "If 
God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?  " 

"Pass  ye  the  proud  fane  by, 

The  vaulted  aisles  by  flaunting  folly  trod, 
And  'neath  the  temple  of  uplifted  sky  — 
Go  forth,  and  worship  God." 

Message,  April  19,  1899 

Subject:     "Not  Matter,  but  Spirit" 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  We  learn  from  the  Scrip- 
tures that  the  Baalites  or  sun-worshippers  failed  to 
look  "through  nature  up  to  nature's  God,"  thus  missing 
the  discovery  of  all  cause  and  effect.  They  were  content 
to  look  no  higher  than  the  symbol.  This  departure  from 
Spirit,  this  worshipping  of  matter  in  the  name  of  nature, 
was  idolatry  then  and  is  idolatry  now.  When  human 
thought  discerned  its  idolatrous  tendencies,  it  took  a  step 


152  MISCELLANY 

higher;  but  it  immediately  turned  to  another  form  of 
idolatry,  and,  worshipping  person  instead  of  Principle, 
anchored  its  faith  in  troubled  waters.  At  that  period, 
the  touch  of  Jesus'  robe  and  the  handkerchief  of  St. 
Paul  were  supposed  to  heal  the  sick,  and  our  Master 
declared,  "Thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole."  The 
medicine-man,  far  lower  in  the  scale  of  thought,  said, 
"My  material  tonic  has  strengthened  you."  By  reposing 
faith  in  man  and  in  matter,  the  human  race  has  not 
yet  reached  the  understanding  of  God,  the  conception 
of  Spirit  and  its  all-power. 

The  restoration  of  pure  Christianity  rests  solely  on 
spiritual  understanding,  spiritual  worship,  spiritual  power. 
Ask  thyself.  Do  I  enter  by  the  door  and  worship  only 
Spirit  and  spiritually,  or  do  I  climb  up  some  other  way? 
Do  I  understand  God  as  Love,  the  divine  Principle  of  all 
that  really  is,  the  infinite  good,  than  which  there  is  none 
else  and  in  whom  is  all?  Unless  this  be  so,  the  blind  is 
leading  the  blind,  and  both  will  stumble  into  doubt  and 
darkness,  even  as  the  ages  have  shown.  To-day,  if  ye 
would  hear  His  voice,  listen  to  His  Word  and  serve  no 
other  gods.  Then  the  divine  Principle  of  good,  that  we 
call  God,  will  be  found  an  ever-present  help  in  all  things, 
and  Christian  Science  will  be  understood.  It  will  also  be 
seen  that  this  God  demands  all  our  faith  and  love;  that 
matter,  man,  or  woman  can  never  heal  you  nor  pardon  a 
single  sin ;  while  God,  the  divine  Principle  of  nature  and 
man,  when  understood  and  demonstrated,  is  found  to  be 
the  remote,  predisposing,  and  present  cause  of  all  that  is 
rightly  done. 

I  have  the  sweet  satisfaction  of  sending  to  you  weekly 
flowers  that  my  skilful  florist  has  coaxed  into  loveliness 


MESSAGE,   APRIL   19,    1899  153 

despite  our  winter  snows.  Also  I  hear  that  the  loving 
hearts  and  hands  of  the  Christian  Scientists  in  Concord 
send  these  floral  offerings  in  my  name  to  the  sick  and 
suffering.  Now,  if  these  kind  hearts  will  only  do  this  in 
Christ's  name,  the  power  of  Truth  and  Love  will  fulfil  the 
law  in  righteousness.  The  healing  and  the  gospel  ministry 
of  my  students  in  Concord  have  come  to  fulfil  the  whole 
law.  Unto  "  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Philadelphia," 
the  church  of  brotheriy  love,  "these  things  saith  He 
that  is  holy." 

To-day  our  great  Master  would  say  to  the  aged  gentle- 
man healed  from  the  day  my  flowers  visited  his  bedside: 
Thy  faith  hath  healed  thee.  The  flowers  were  imbued 
and  associated  with  no  intrinsic  healing  quahties  from  my 
poor  personality.  The  scientific,  healing  faith  is  a  saving 
faith;  it  keeps  steadfastly  the  great  and  first  command- 
ment, "  Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me "  —  no 
other  than  the  spiritual  help  of  divine  Love.  Faith  in 
aught  else  misguides  the  understanding,  ignores  the  power 
of  God,  and,  in  the  words  of  St.  Paul,  appeals  to  an  un- 
known power  "whom  therefore  ye  ignorantly  worship." 
This  trembhng  and  blind  faith,  in  the  past  as  in  the  present, 
seeks  personality  for  support,  unmindful  of  the  divine  law 
of  Love,  which  can  be  understood,  the  Principle  of  which 
works  intelligently  as  the  divine  Mind,  not  as  matter, 
casting  out  evil  and  healing  the  sick. 

Christian  Science  heahng  is  "the  Spirit  and  the  bride," 
—  the  Word  and  the  wedding  of  this  Word  to  all  human 
thought  and  action,  —  that  says :  Come,  and  I  will  give 
thee  rest,  peace,  health,  holiness.  The  sweet  flowers 
should  be  to  us  His  apostles,  p>ointing  away  from  matter 
and  man  up  to  the  one  source,  divine  Life  and  Love,  in 


154  MISCELLANY 

whom  is  all  salvation  from  sin,  disease,  and  death.  The 
Science  of  all  heahng  is  based  on  Mind  —  the  power  of 
Truth  over  error.  It  is  not  the  person  who  gives  the 
drug  nor  the  drug  itself  that  heals,  but  it  is  the  law  of 
Life  understood  by  the  practitioner  as  transcending. the 
law  of  death. 

I  shall  scarcely  venture  to  send  flowers  to  this  little  hall 
if  they  can  be  made  to  infringe  the  divine  law  of  Love 
even  in  thought.  Send  flowers  and  all  things  fair  and 
comforting  to  the  dear  sick,  but  remember  it  is  not  he 
who  gives  the  flowers  that  confers  the  blessing,  but 
"my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord;"  for  "in  Him  was  life,"  and 
that  life  "was  the  light  of  men." 

First  Annual  Meeting,  January  11,  1900 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  At  this,  your  first  annual 
meeting,  permit  me  to  congratulate  this  little  church  in 
our  city,  weaving  the  new-old  vesture  in  which  to  appear 
and  to  clothe  the  human  race.  Garlyle  wrote :  "Wouldst 
thou  plant  for  eternity?  Then  plant  into  the  deep  infinite 
faculties  of  man.  If  the  poor  toil  that  we  have  food,  must 
not  the  high  and  glorious  toil  for  him  in  return  that  we 
have  light,  freedom,  immortality?"  I  agree  with  him; 
and  in  our  era  of  the  world  I  welcome  the  means  and 
methods,  light  and  truth,  emanating  from  the  pulpit  and 
press.  Altogether  it  makes  the  church  militant,  embodied 
in  a  visible  communion,  the  foreshadowing  of  the  church 
triumphant.  Communing  heart  with  heart,  mind  with 
mind,  soul  with  soul,  wherein  and  whereby  we  are  looking 
heavenward,  is  not  looking  nor  gravitating  earthward, 
take  it  in  whatever  sense  you  may.     Such  communing 


EASTER   MESSAGE,   1902  155 

uplifts  man's  being;  it  makes  healing  the  sick  and  reform- 
ing the  sinner  a  mutual  aid  society,  which  is  effective  here 
and  now. 

May  this  dear  little  church,  nestled  so  near  my  heart 
and  native  hills,  be  steadfast  in  Christ,  always  abounding 
in  love  and  good  works,  having  unfaltering  faith  in  the 
prophecies,  promises,  and  proofs  of  Holy  Writ.  May  this 
church  have  one  God,  one  Christ,  and  that  one  the  God  and 
Saviour  whom  the  Scriptures  declare.  May  it  catch  the 
early  trumpet-call,  take  step  with  the  twentieth  century, 
leave  behind  those  things  that  are  behind,  lay  down  the 
low  laurels  of  vainglory,  and,  pressing  forward  in  the  on- 
ward march  of  Truth,  run  in  joy,  health,  holiness,  the 
race  set  before  it,  till,  home  at  last,  it  finds  the  full  fru- 
ition of  its  faith,  hope,  and  prayer. 

Easter  Message,  1902 

Beloved  Brethren :  —  IMay  this  glad  Easter  morn  find 
the  members  of  this  dear  church  having  a  pure  peace,  a 
fresh  joy,  a  clear  vision  of  heaven  here,  —  heaven  within 
us,  —  and  an  awakened  sense  of  the  risen  Christ.  May 
long  lines  of  light  span  the  horizon  of  their  hope  and 
brighten  their  faith  with  a  dawn  that  knows  no  twilight 
and  no  night.  May  those  who  discourse  music  to-day, 
sing  as  the  angels  heaven's  symphonies  that  come  to 
earth. 

May  the  dear  Sunday  School  children  always  be  gather- 
ing Easter  lilies  of  love  with  happy  hearts  and  ripening 
goodness.  To-day  may  they  find  some  sweet  scents  and 
beautiful  blossoms  in  their  Leader's  love,  which  she  sends 
to  them  this  glad  morn  in  the  flowers  and  the  cross  from 
Pleasant  View,  smiling  upon  them. 


166  MISCELLANY 

Last  Annual  Meeting,  January  6,  1904 

Beloved  Brethren :  —  You  will  accept  my  gratitude  for 
your  dear  letter,  and  allow  me  to  reply  in  words  of  the 
Scripture:  "I  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and  am  per- 
suaded that  He  is  able"  —  "able  to  do  exceeding  abun- 
dantly above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,"  "able  to  make 
all  grace  abound  toward  you;  that  ye,  always  hav- 
ing all  sufficiency  in  all  things,  may  abound  to  every 
good  work,"  "able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  com- 
mitted unto  Him  against  that  day." 

When  Jesus  directed  his  disciples  to  prepare  for  the 
material  passover,  which  spiritually  speaking  is  the  pass- 
over  from  sense  to  Soul,  he  bade  them  say  to  the  good- 
man  of  the  house:  "The  Master  saith  unto  thee,  Where 
is  the  guestchamber,  where  I  shall  eat  the  passover  with 
my  disciples?  and  he  shall  show  you  a  large  upper  room 
furnished:  there  make  ready." 

In  obedience  to  this  command  may  these  communicants 
come  with  the  upper  chambers  of  thought  prepared  for  the 
reception  of  Truth  —  with  hope,  faith,  and  love  ready  to 
partake  of  the  bread  that  cometh  down  from  heaven,  and 
to  "drink  of  his  blood"  —  to  receive  into  their  affections 
and  lives  the  inspiration  which  giveth  victory  over  sin, 
disease,  and  death. 


CHAPTER  VI 

FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST, 
CONCORD,  N.  H. 

[Concord  (N.  H.)  Monitor] 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Gift  to  the  Concord  Church 

"T3EL0VED  Teacher  and  Leader:  —  The  members 
-U  of  the  Concord  church  are  filled  with  profound  joy 
and  deep  gratitude  that  your  generous  gift  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  is  to  be  used  at  once  to  build  a 
beautiful  church  edifice  for  your  followers  in  the  capital 
city  of  your  native  State.  We  rejoice  that  the  prosperity 
of  the  Cause  in  your  home  city,  where,  without  regard 
to  class  or  creed,  you  are  so  highly  esteemed,  makes 
necessary  the  commodious  and  beautiful  church  home 
you  have  so  freely  bestowed.  We  thank  you  for  this 
renewed  evidence  of  your  unselfish  love." 

The  church  will  be  built  of  the  same  beautiful  Concord 
granite  of  which  the  National  Library  Building  in  Wash- 
ington is  constructed.  This  is  in  accord  with  the  ex- 
pressed wish  of  Mrs.  Eddy,  made  known  in  her  original 
deed  of  trust,  first  announced  in  the  Concord  Monitor 
of  March  19,  1898.  In  response  to  an  inquiry  from  the 
editor  of  that  paper,  Mrs.  Eddy  made  the  following 
statement:  — 

On  January  31,  1898,  I  gave  a  deed  of  trust  to  three 
individuals  which  conveyed  to  them  the  sum  of  one 

157 


158  MISCELLANY 

hundred  thousand  dollars  to  be  appropriated  in  build- 
ing a  granite  church  edifice  for  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  in  this  city. 

Very  truly, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Corner-Stone  Laid  at  Concord 

Beloved  Brethren :  —  This  day  drops  down  upon  the 
glories  of  summer;  it  is  a  glad  day,  in  attune  with  faith's 
fond  trust.  We  live  in  an  age  of  Love's  divine  adven- 
ture to  be  All-in-all.  This  day  is  the  natal  hour  of  my 
lone  earth  life;  and  for  all  mankind  to-day  hath  its  gloom 
and  glory:  it  endureth  all  things;  it  points  to  the  new 
birth,  heaven  here,  the  struggle  over;  it  profits  by  the 
past  and  joys  in  the  present  —  to-day  lends  a  new-born 
beauty  to  holiness,  patience,  charity,  love. 

Having  all  faith  in  Christian  Science,  we  must  have 
faith  in  whatever  manifests  love  for  God  and  man.  The 
burden  of  proof  that  Christian  Science  is  Science  rests 
on  Christian  Scientists.  The  letter  without  the  spirit 
is  dead:  it  is  the  Spirit  that  heals  the  sick  and  the 
sinner  —  that  makes  the  heart  tender,  faithful,  true. 
Most  men  and  women  talk  well,  and  some  practise  what 
they  say. 

God  has  blessed  and  will  bless  this  dear  band  of  brethren. 
He  has  laid  the  chief  corner-stone  of  the  temple  which 
to-day  you  commemorate,  to-morrow  complete,  and  there- 
after dedicate  to  Truth  and  Love.  O  may  your  temple 
and  all  who  worship  therein  stand  through  all  time  for 
God  and  humanity! 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


DEDICATION  OF  MRS.   EDDY'S  GIFT     159 

Message  on  the  Occasion  of  the  Dedication  of 
Mrs.  Eddy's  Gift,  July  17,  1904 

Beloved  Brethren :  —  Never  more  sweet  than  to-day, 
seem  to  me,  and  must  seem  to  thee,  those  words  of 
our  loved  Lord,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end."  Thus  may  it  ever  be  that  Christ  rejoiceth 
and  comforteth  us.  Sitting  at  his  feet,  I  send  to 
you  the  throbbing  of  every  pulse  of  my  desire  for  the 
ripening  and  rich  fruit  of  this  branch  of  his  vine,  and 
I  thank  God  who  hath  sent  forth  His  word  to  heal 
and  to  save. 

At  this  period,  the  greatest  man  or  woman  on  earth 
stands  at  the  vestibule  of  Christian  Science,  struggling  to 
enter  into  the  perfect  love  of  God  and  man.  The  infinite 
will  not  be  buried  in  the  finite;  the  true  thought  escapes 
from  the  inward  to  the  outward,  and  this  is  the  only 
right  activity,  that  whereby  we  reach  our  higher 
nature.  jVIaterial  theories  tend  to  check  spiritual  at- 
traction —  the  tendency  towards  God,  the  infinite  and 
eternal  —  by  an  opposite  attraction  towards  the  tem- 
porary and  finite.  Truth,  life,  and  love  are  the  only 
legitimate  and  eternal  demands  upon  man;  they  are 
spiritual  laws  enforcing  obedience  and  punishing  dis- 
obedience. 

Even  Epictetus,  a  heathen  philosopher  who  held  that 
Zeus,  the  master  of  the  gods,  could  not  control  human 
will,  writes,  "What  is  the  essence  of  God?  Mind."  The 
general  thought  chiefly  regards  material  things,  and  keeps 

Copyright,  1904,  by  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy.  All  rights 
reserved. 


160  MISCELLANY 

Mind  much  out  of  sight.  The  Christian,  however,  strives 
for  the  spiritual;  he  abides  in  a  right  purpose,  as  in  laws 
which  it  were  impious  to  transgress,  and  follows  Truth 
fearlessly.  The  heart  that  beats  mostly  for  self  is  seldom 
alight  with  love.  To  live  so  as  to  keep  human  conscious- 
ness in  constant  relation  with  the  divine,  the  spiritual,  and 
the  eternal,  is  to  individuaUze  infinite  power;  and  this  is 
Christian  Science. 

It  is  of  less  importance  that  we  receive  from  man- 
kind justice,  than  that  we  deserve  it.  Most  of  us 
willingly  accept  dead  truisms  which  can  be  buried 
at  will;  but  a  live  truth,  even  though  it  be  a  sapling 
within  rich  soil  and  with  blossoms  on  its  branches, 
frightens  people.  The  trenchant  truth  that  cuts  its 
way  through  iron  and  sod,  most  men  avoid  until 
compelled  to  glance  at  it.  Then  they  open  their 
hearts  to  it  for  actual  being,  health,  holiness,  and  im- 
mortality. 

I  am  asked,  "Is  there  a  hell?"  Yes,  there  is  a  hell  for 
all  who  persist  in  breaking  the  Golden  Rule  or  in  dis- 
obeying, the  commandments  of  God.  Physical  science 
has  sometimes  argued  that  the  internal  fires  of  our  earth 
will  eventually  consume  this  planet.  Christian  Science 
shows  that  hidden  unpunished  sin  is  this  internal  fire,  — 
even  the  fire  of  a  guilty  conscience,  waking  to  a  true  sense 
of  itself,  and  burning  in  torture  until  the  sinner  is  con- 
sumed, —  his  sins  destroyed.  This  may  take  millions  of 
cycles,  but  of  the  time  no  man  knoweth.  The  advanced 
psychist  knows  that  this  hell  is  mental,  not  material,  and 
that  the  Christian  has  no  part  in  it.  Only  the  makers  of 
hell  burn  in  their  fire. 

Concealed  crimes,  the  wrongs  done  to  others,  are  mill- 


DEDICATION  OF  MRS.   EDDY'S  GIFT     161 

stones  hung  around  the  necks  of  the  wicked.  Christ  Jesus 
paid  our  debt  and  set  us  free  by  enabUng  us  to  pay  it; 
for  which  we  are  still  his  debtors,  washing  the  Way-shower's 
feet  with  tears  of  joy. 

The  intentional  destroyer  of  others  would  destroy  him- 
self eternally,  were  it  not  that  his  suflFering  reforms  him, 
thus  balancing  his  account  with  divine  Love,  which  never 
remits  the  sentence  necessary  to  reclaim  the  sinner. 
Hence  these  words  of  Christ  Jesus :  "  Depart  from  me,  all 
ye  workers  of  iniquity.  There  shall  be  weeping  and 
gnashing  of  teeth,  when  ye  shall  see  Abraham,  and 
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  all  the  prophets,  in  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  you  yourselves  thrust  out."  (Luke  13:  27,  28.) 
He  who  gains  self-knowledge,  self-control,  and  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  within  himself,  within  his  own  conscious- 
ness, is  saved  through  Christ,  Truth.  Mortals  must 
drink  sufficiently  of  the  cup  of  their  Lord  and  Master 
to  unself  mortality  and  to  destroy  its  erroneous  claims. 
Therefore,  said  Jesus,  "Ye  shall  drink  indeed  of  my 
cup,  and  be  baptized  with  the  baptism  that  I  am 
baptized  with." 

We  cannot  boast  ourselves  of  to-morrow ;  sufficient  unto 
each  day  is  the  duty  thereof.  Lest  human  reason  becloud 
spiritual  understanding,  say  not  in  thy  heart:  Sickness  is 
possible  because  one's  thought  and  conduct  do  not  afford 
a  sufficient  defence  against  it.  Trust  in  God,  and  "He 
shall  direct  thy  paths."  When  evil  was  avenging  itself  on 
its  destroyer,  his  preeminent  goodness,  the  Godlike  man 
said,  "My  burden  is  light."  Only  he  who  learns  through 
meekness  and  love  the  falsity  of  supposititious  life  and 
intelligence  in  matter,  can  triumph  over  their  ultimatum, 
sin,  suffering,  and  death. 


162  MISCELLANY 

God's  mercy  for  mortal  ignorance  and  need  is  assured; 
then  who  shall  question  our  want  of  more  faith  in  His 
"very  present  help  in  trouble"?  Jesus  said:  "Suffer 
it  to  be  so  now:  for  thus  it  becometh  us  to  fulfil  all 
righteousness." 

Strength  is  in  man,  not  in  muscles;  unity  and  power  are 
not  in  atom  or  in  dust.  A  small  group  of  wise  thinkers 
is  better  than  a  wilderness  of  dullards  and  stronger  than 
the  might  of  empires.  Unity  is  spiritual  cooperation, 
heart  to  heart,  the  bond  of  blessedness  such  as  my  beloved 
Christian  Scientists  all  over  the  field,  and  the  dear  Sun- 
day School  children,  have  demonstrated  in  gifts  to  me 
of  about  eighty  thousand  dollars,  to  be  applied  to  build- 
ing, embellishing,  and  furnishing  our  church  edifice  in 
Concord,  N.  H. 

We  read  in  Holy  Writ:  "This  man  began  to  build,  and 
was  not  able  to  finish."  This  was  spoken  derisively. 
But  the  love  that  rebukes  praises  also,  and  methinks  the 
same  wisdom  which  spake  thus  in  olden  time  would  say 
to  the  builder  of  the  Christian  Scientists'  church  edifice 
in  Concord:  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful."  Our  proper 
reason  for  church  edifices  is,  that  in  them  Christians  may 
worship  God,  —  not  that  Christians  may  worship  church 
edifices! 

May  the  loving  Shepherd  of  this  feeble  flock  lead  it 
gently  into  "green  pastures  .  .  .  beside  the  still  waters." 
May  He  increase  its  members,  and  may  their  faith  never 
falter  —  their  faith  in  and  their  understanding  of  divine 
Love.  This  church,  born  in  my  nativity,  may  it  build 
upon  the  rock  of  ages  against  which  the  waves  and  winds 
beat  in  vain.  May  the  towering  top  of  its  goodly  temple 
—  burdened  with  beauty,  pointing  to  the  heavens,  bursting 


A  KINDLY   GREETING  163 

into  the  rapture  of  song  —  long  call  the  worshipper  to 
seek  the  haven  of  hope,  the  heaven  of  Soul,  the  sweet  sense 
of  angelic  song  chiming  chaste  challenge  to  praise  him  who 
won  the  way  and  taught  mankind  to  win  through  meekness 
to  might,  goodness  to  grandeur,  —  from  cross  to  crown, 
from  sense  to  Soul,  from  gleam  to  glory,  from  matter  to 
Spirit. 

Announcement 

Not  having  the  time  to  receive  all  the  beloved  ones  who 
have  so  kindly  come  to  the  dedication  of  this  church,  I 
must  not  allow  myself  the  pleasure  of  receiving  any  of 
them.  I  always  try  to  be  just,  if  not  generous;  and  I 
cannot  show  my  love  for  them  in  social  ways  without 
neglecting  the  sacred  demands  on  my  time  and  attention 
for  labors  which  I  think  do  them  more  good. 

A  Kindly  Greeting 

Dear  Editor:  —  When  I  removed  from  Boston  in  1889 
and  came  to  Concord,  N.  H.,  it  was  that  I  might  find 
retirement  from  many  year^  of  incessant  labor  for  the 
Cause  of  Christian  Science,  and  the  opportunity  in  Con- 
cord's quiet  to  revise  our  textbook,  "Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures."  Here  let  me  add  that, 
together  with  the  retirement  I  so  much  coveted,  I  have 
also  received  from  the  leading  people  of  this  pleasant  city 
all  and  more  than  I  anticipated.  I  love  its  people  — ~ 
love  their  scholarship,  friendship,  and  granite  char- 
acter. I  respect  their  religious  beliefs,  and  thank  their 
ancestors  for  helping  to  form  mine.  The  movement  of 
establishing  in  this  city  a  church  of  our  faith  was  far  from 


164  MISCELLANY 

* 

my  purpose,  when  I  came  here,  knowing  that  such  an 
effort  would  involve  a  lessening  of  the  retirement  I  so 
much  desired.  But  the  demand  increased,  and  I  con- 
sented, hoping  thereby  to  give  to  many  in  this  city  a 
church  home. 

Acknowledgment  of  Gifts 
to  the  chicago  churches 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  have  yearned  to  express  my 
thanks  for  your  munificent  gift  to  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  in  Concord,  of  ten  thousand  dollars.  What  is 
gratitude  but  a  powerful  camera  obscura,  a  thing  focus- 
ing light  where  love,  memory,  and  all  within  the  human 
heart  is  present  to  manifest  light. 

Is  it  not  a  joy  to  compare  the  beginning  of  Christian 
Science  in  Chicago  with  its  present  prosperity?  Now 
[1904]  six  dear  churches  are  there,  the  members  of  which 
not  only  possess  a  sound  faith,  but  that  faith  also  possesses 
them.  A  great  sanity,  a  mighty  something  buried  in  the 
depths  of  the  unseen,  has  wrought  a  resurrection  among 
you,  and  has  leaped  inta  living  love.  What  is  this 
something,  this  phoenix  fire,  this  pillar  by  day,  kindling, 
guiding,  and  guarding  your  way?  It  is  unity,  the  bond 
of  perfectness,  the  thousandfold  expansion  that  will 
engirdle  the  world,  —  unity,  which  unfolds  the  thought 
most  within  us  into  the  greater  and  better,  the  sum  of 
all  reality  and  good. 

This  unity  is  reserved  wisdom  and  strength.  It  builds 
upon  the  rock,  against  which  envy,  enmity,  or  malice 
beat  in  vain.  Man  lives,  moves,  and  has  his  being  in  God, 
Love.    Then  man  must  live,  he  cannot  die;    and  Love 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT  OF  GIFTS  165 

must  necessarily  promote  and  pervade  all  his  success. 
Of  two  things  fate  cannot  rob  us;  namely,  of  choos- 
ing the  best,  and  of  helping  others  thus  to  choose. 
But  in  doing  this  the  Master  became  the  servant.  The 
grand  must  stoop  to  the  menial.  There  is  scarcely  an 
indignity  which  I  have  not  endured  for  the  cause  of 
Christ,  Truth,  and  I  returned  blessing  for  cursing.  The 
best  help  the  worst;  the  righteous  suffer  for  the  unright- 
eous; and  by  this  spirit  man  lives  and  thrives,  and  by 
it  God  governs. 

TO   FIRST  CHURCH    OF    CHRIST,    SCIENTIST,   NEW  YORK 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  beg  to  thank  the  dear  brethren  of 
this  church  for  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  presented 
to  me  for  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Concord, 
N.  H.  Goodness  never  fails  to  receive  its  reward,  for 
goodness  makes  life  a  blessing.  As  an  active  portion  of 
one  stupendous  whole,  goodness  identifies  man  with 
unhersal  good.  Thus  may  each  member  of  this  church 
rise  above  the  oft-repeated  inquiry,  What  am  I?  to  the 
scientific  response :  I  am  able  to  impart  truth,  health,  and 
happiness,  and  this  is  my  rock  of  salvation  and  my  reason 
for  existing. 

Human  reason  becomes  tired  and  calls  for  rest.  It  has 
a  relapse  into  the  common  hope.  Goodness  and  benevo- 
lence-never  tire.  They  maintain  themselves  and  others 
and  never  stop  from  exhaustion.  He  who  is  afraid  of 
being  too  generous  has  lost  the  power  of  being  magnani- 
mous. The  best  man  or  woman  is  the  most  unselfed. 
God  grant  that  this  churCh  is  rapidly  nearing  the  maxi- 
mum of  might,  —  the  means  that  build  to  the  heavens, 
—  that  it  has  indeed  found  and  felt  the  infinite  source 


166  MISCELLANY 

where  is  all,  and  from  which  it  can  help  its  neighbor. 
Then  efforts  to  be  great  will  never  end  in  anarchy  but 
will  continue  with  divine  approbation.  It  is  insincerity 
and  a  half-persuaded  faith  that  fail  to  succeed  and  fall 
to  the  earth. 

Religions  may  waste  away,  but  the  fittest  survives; 
and  so  long  as  we  have  the  right  ideal,  life  is  worth  living 
and  God  takes  care  of  our  life. 

TO  THE  MOTHER  CHURCH 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  Your  munificent  gift  of  ten 
thousand  dollars,  with  which  to  furnish  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  of  Concord,  N.  H.,  with  an  organ,  is 
positive  proof  of  your  remembrance  and  love.  Days  of 
shade  and  shine  may  come  and  go,  but  we  will  live  on  and 
never  drift  apart.  Life's  ills  are  its  chief  recompense; 
they  develop  hidden  strength.  Had  I  never  suffered  for 
The  Mother  Church,  neither  she  nor  I  would  be  practising 
the  virtues  that  lie  concealed  in  the  smooth  seasons  and 
calms  of  human  existence.  When  we  are  willing  to  help 
and  to  be  helped,  divine  aid  is  near.  If  all  our  years  were 
holidays,  sport  would  be  more  irksome  than  work.  So, 
my  dear  ones,  let  us  together  sing  the  old-new  song  of 
salvation,  and  let  our  measure  of  time  and  joy  be  spiritual, 
not  material. 

TO   FIRST    CHURCH    OF    CHRIST,    SCIENTIST, 
NEW    LONDON,    CONN. 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  am  for  the  first  time  informed  of 
your  gift  to  me  of  a  beautiful  cabinet,  costing  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  dollars,  for  my  books,  placed  in  my  room 
at  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Concord,  N.  H. 


RELIGIOUS  FREEDOM  167 

Accept  my  deep  thanks  therefor,  and  especially  for  the 
self-sacrifice  it  may  have  cost  the  dear  donors. 

The  mysticism  of  good  is  unknown  to  the  flesh,  for 
goodness  is  "the  fruit  of  the  Spirit."  The  suppositional 
world  within  us  separates  us  from  the  spiritual  world, 
which  is  apart  from  matter,  and  unites  us  to  one  another. 
Spirit  teaches  us  to  resign  what  we  are  not  and  to  un- 
derstand what  we  are  in  the  unity  of  Spirit  —  in  that 
Love  which  is  faithful,  an  ever-present  help  in  trouble, 
which  never  deserts  us, 

I  pray  that  heaven's  messages  of  "  on  earth  peace,  good 
will  toward  men,"  may  fill  your  hearts  and  leave  their 
loving  benedictions  upon  your  lives. 

Thanksgiving  Day,  1904 

Beloved  Students:  —  May  this,  your  first  Thanksgiv- 
ing Day,  according  to  time-tables,  in  our  new  church 
edifice,  be  one  acceptable  in  His  sight,  and  full  of  love, 
peace,  and  good  will  for  jourselves,  your  flock,  and  the 
race.  Give  to  all  the  dear  ones  my  love,  and  my 
prayer  for  their  health,  happiness,  and  hoHness  this 
and  every  day. 

Religious  Freedom 

Beloved  Brethren: — Allow  me  to  send  forth  a  paean 
of  praise  for  the  noble  disposal  of  the  legislative  question 
as  to  the  infringement  of  rights  and  privileges  guaran- 
teed to  you  by  the  laws  of  my  native  State.  The  con- 
stituted religious  rights  in  New  Hampshire  will,  I  trust, 
never  be  marred  by  the  illegitimate  claims  of  envy, 
jealousy,  or  persecution. 

In  our  country  the  day  of  heathenism,  illiberal  views, 


168  MISCELLANY 

or  of  an  uncultivated  understanding  has  passed.  Free- 
dom to  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  en- 
lightened conscience,  and  practical  religion  in  agreement 
with  the  demand  of  our  common  Christ,  the  Holy  One 
of  Israel,  are  forever  the  privileges  of  the  people  of  my 
dear  old.  New  Hampshire. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
.  Box  G,"  Brookune,  Mass., 
April  12,  1909. 


CHAPTER  VII 
PLEASANT  VIEW  AND  CONCORD,  N.  H. 

Invitation  to  Concord,  July  4,   1897 

MY  Beloved  Church:  —  I  invite  you,  one  and  all, 
to  Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H.,  on  July  5,  at 
12.30  P.M.,  if  you  would  enjoy  so  long  a  trip  for  so  small 
a  purpose  as  simply  seeing  Mother. 

My  precious  Busy  Bees,  under  twelve  years  of  age, 
are  requested  to  visit  me  at  a  later  date,  which  I  hope 
soon  to  name  to  them. 

With  love.  Mother, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
June  30,  1897. 

[New  York  JoumcU] 

Visit  to  Concord,  1901 

Please  say  through  the  New  York  Journal,  to  the 
Christian  Scientists  of  New  York  City  and  of  the  world 
at  large,  that  I  was  happy  to  receive  at  Concord,  N.  H., 
the  call  of  about  three  thousand  believers  of  my  faith, 
and  that  I  was  rejoiced  at  the  appropriate  beauty  of 
time  and  place  which  greeted  them. 

169 


170  MISCELLANY 

I  am  especially  desirous  that  it  should  be  understood 
that  this  was  no  festal  occasion,  no  formal  church  cere- 
monial, but  simply  my  acquiescence  in  the  request  of  my 
church  members  that  they  might  see  the  Leader  of  Chris- 
tian Science. 

The  brevity  of  my  remarks  was  due  to  a  desire  on  my 
part  that  the  important  sentiments  uttered  in  my  annual 
Message  to  the  church  last  Sunday  should  not  be  confused 
with  other  issues,  but  should  be  emphasized  in  the  minds 
of  all  present  here  in  Concord. 

Address  at  Pleasant  View,  June,  1903 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  Welcome  home!  To  your  home 
in  my  heart!  Welcome  to  Pleasant  View,  but  not 
to  varying  views.  I  would  present  a  gift  to  you 
to-day,  only  that  this  gift  is  already  yours.  God  hath 
given  it  to  all  mankind.  It  is  His  coin.  His  currency; 
it  has  His  image  and  superscription.  This  gift  is  a 
passage  of  Scripture;  it  is  my  sacred  motto,  and  it 
reads  thus :  — 

"Trust  in  the  Lord,  and  do  good;  so  shalt  thou  dwell 
in  the  land,  and  verily  thou  shalt  be  fed.  Delight  thyself 
also  in  the  Lord;  and  He  shall  give  thee  the  desires  of  thine 
heart.  Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord;  trust  also  in 
Him;  and  He  shall  bring  it  to  pass.  And  He  shall  bring 
forth  thy  righteousness  as  the  light,  and  thy  judgment 
as  the  noonday." 

Beloved,  some  of  you  have  come  long  distances  to  kneel 
with  us  in  sacred  silence  in  blest  communion  —  unity  of 
faith,  understanding,  prayer,  and  praise  —  and  to  return 
in  joy,  bearing  your  sheaves  with  you.     In  parting  I 


VISIT  TO  CONCORD,  1904  171 

rep>eat  to  these  dear  members  of  my  ehm-ch:  I'nist  in 
Truth,  and  have  no  other  trusts. 

To-day  is  fulfilled  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah:  "And  the 
ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  return,  and  come  to  Zion 
with  songs  and  everlasting  joy  upon  their  heads:  they 
shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sigh- 
ing shall  flee  away." 

Visit  to  Concord,  1904 

Beloved  Students :  —  The  new  Concord  church  is  so 
nearly  completed  that  I  think  you  would  enjoy  seeing  it. 
Therefore  I  hereby  invite  all  my  church  communicants 
who  attend  this  communion,  to  come  to  Concord,  and 
view  this  beautiful  structure,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, Monday,  June  13,  1904. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
June  11,  1904. 

THE  DAY  IN  CONCORD 

While  on  her  regular  afternoon  drive  Mrs.  Eddy  re- 
sponded graciously  to  the  silent  greetings  of  the  people 
who  were  assembled  on  the  lawn  of  the  Unitarian  church 
and  of  the  high  school.  Her  carriage  came  to  a  stand- 
still on  North  State  Street,  and  she  was  greeted  in  behalf 
of  the  church  by  the  President,  Mr.  E.  P.  Bates,  to 
whom  she  presented  as  a  love-token  for  the  church  a 
handsome  rosewood  casket  beautifully  bound  with  bur- 
nished brass. 

The   casket   contained   a   gavel   for    the   use   of    the 


172  MISCELLANY 

President  of  The  Mother  Church.  The  wood  of  the  head 
of  the  gavel  was  taken  from  the  old  Yale  College  Athe- 
naeum, the  first  chapel  of  the  college.  It  was  built  in 
1761,  and  razed  in  1893  to  make  room  for  Vanderbilt 
Hall.  The  wood  in  the  handle  was  grown  on  the  farm 
of  Mark  Baker,  father  of  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
at  Bow,  N.  H. 

In  presenting  this  gavel  to  President  Bates,  Mrs.  Eddy 
spoke  as  follows  to  the  members  of  her  church,  The  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Boston,  Mass. :  — 

"My  Belated  Brethren :  —  Permit  me  to  present  to  you 
a  Httle  gift  that  has  no  intrinsic  value  save  that  which  it 
represents  —  namely,  a  material  symbol  of  my  spiritual 
call  to  this  my  beloved  church  of  over  thirty  thousand 
members;  and  this  is  that  call :  In  the  words  of  our  great 
Master,  *Go  ye  into  all  the  world,'  'heal  the  sick,'  cast 
out  evil,  disease,  and  death;  'Freely  ye  have  received, 
freely  give.'  You  will  please  accept  my  thanks  for  your 
kind,  expert  call  on  me." 

In  reply  Mr.  Bates  said,  — 

"I  accept  this  gift  in  behalf  of  the  church,  and  for 
myself  and  my  successors  in  office." 

The  box  containing  the  gavel  was  opened  the  following 
day  in  Boston  at  the  annual  meeting  of  The  Mother 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  and  the  enclosed  note  from 
Mrs.  Eddy  was  read :  — 

"My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  You  will  please  accept 
from  me  the  accompanying  gift  as  a  simple  token  of 
love." 


CARD  OF  THANKS  173 

Card  of  Thanks 

The  following  letter  appeared  in  the  Concord  (N.  H.) 
newspapers  after  the  visit  of  the  Christian  Scientists  in 
1904:  — 

Dear  Mr.  Editor :  —  Allow  me  through  your  paper  to 
thank  the  citizens  of  Concord  for  the  generous  hospi- 
tahty  extended  yesterday  to  the  members  of  my  church, 
The  jMother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston. 

After  the  Christian  Science  periodicals  had  given  notice 
that  no  preparations  would  be  made  for  a  large  gathering 
at  this  annual  meeting  of  The  Mother  Church,  I  scarcely 
supposed  that  a  note,  sent  at  the  last  moment,  would  bring 
thousands  here  yesterday;  but  as  many  gifts  had  come 
from  Christian  Scientists  everywhere  to  help  furnish  and 
beautify  our  new  church  building  in  Concord,  it  came  to 
me:  Why  not  invite  those  who  attend  the  communion 
in  Boston  to  take  a  peep  at  this  church  edifice  on  the  day 
when  there  are  no  formal  exercises  at  the  denominational 
headquarters?  The  number  of  visitors,  about  four  thou- 
sand, exceeded  my  expectation,  and  my  heart  welcomed 
each  and  all.  It  was  a  glad  day  for  me  —  sweet  to  observe 
with  what  unanimity  my  fellow-citizens  vied  with  each 
other  to  make  the  Christian  Scientists'  short  stay  so 
pleasant. 

Special  thanks  are  due  and  are  hereby  tendered  to  his 
Honor,  the  Mayor,  for  arranging  the  details  and  allowing 
the  visitors  to  assemble  on  the  green  surrounding  the  high 
school ;  also  to  Mr.  George  D.  Waldron,  chairman  of  the 
prudential  committee  of  the  Unitarian  church,  and  to  his 
colaborers  on  said  committee  and  to  the  church  itself, 
for  their  kindly  foresight  in  granting  permission,  not  only 


174  MISCELLANY 

« 

to  use  the  beautiful  lawn  surrounding  their  church  build- 
ing, but  also  for  throwing  open  their  doors  for  the  com- 
fort and  convenience  of  the  Christian  Scientists  during 
the  day.  The  wide-spreading  elms  and  soft  greensward 
proved  an  ideal  meeting  place.  I  greatly  appreciate  the 
courtesy  extended  to  my  friends  by  the  Wonolancet  Club 
in  again  opening  their  spacious  club-house  to  them  on  this 
occasion;  and  the  courtesy  of  the  efficient  city  marshal 
and  his  staff  of  pohce  extended  to  me  throughout.  And 
last  but  not  least,  I  thank  the  distinguished  editors  in  my 
home  city  for  their  reports  of  the  happy  occasion. 

To  First  Congregational  Church 

To  the  Rev.  Franklin  D.  Ayer,  D.D.,  Pastor  Emeritus;  the  Rev. 
George  H.  Reed,  Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church, 
Concord,  N.  H.,  Edward  A.  Moulton,  John  C.  Thome,  William  P. 
Ballard,  Henry  K.  Morrison,  Deacons. 

Beloved  Brethren :  —  I  have  the  pleasure  of  thanking 
you  for  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-fifth  anniversary  of  our  time-honored 
First  Congregational  Church  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  where 
my  parents  first  offered  me  to  Christ  in  infant  baptism. 
For  nearly  forty  years  and  until  I  had  a  church  of  my 
own,  I  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Tilton,  N.  H. 

To-day  my  soul  can  only  sing  and  soar.  An  increas- 
ing sense  of  God's  love,  omnipresence,  and  omnipotence 
enfolds  me.  Each  day  I  know  Him  nearer,  love  Him 
more,  and  humbly  pray  to  serve  Him  better.  Thus 
seeking  and  finding  (though  feebly),  finally  may  we  not 
together  rejoice  in  the  church  triumphant? 


GREETINGS  175 

I  would  lov^e  to  be  with  you  at  this  deeply  interesting 
anniversary,  but  my  little  church  in  Boston,  Mass.,  of 
thirty-six  thousand  communicants,  together  with  the 
organizations  connected  therewith,  requires  my  constant 
attention  and  time,  with  the  exception  of  a  daily  drive. 

Please  accept  the  enclosed  check  for  five  hundred 
dollars,  to  aid  in  repairing  your  church  building. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
November  14,  1905. 

Greetings 

Allow  me  to  say  to  the  good  folk  of  Concord  that  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  our  city  cheer  me.  Its  dear 
churches,  reliable  editors,  intelligent  medical  faculty, 
up-to-date  academies,  humane  institutions,  provisions  for 
the  army,  and  well-conducted  jail  and  state  prison,  —  if, 
indeed,  such  must  remain  with  us  a  little  longer,  —  speak 
for  themsehes.  Our  picturesque  city,  however,  greatly 
needs  improved  streets.  May  I  ask  in  behalf  of  the  public 
this  favor  of  our  city  government;  namely,  to  macadam- 
ize a  portion  of  Warren  Street  and  to  macadamize  North 
State  Street  throughout? 

Sweeter  than  the  balm  of  Gilead,  richer  than  the 
diamonds  of  Golconda,  dear  as  the  friendship  of  those 
we  love,  are  justice,  fraternity,  and  Christian  charity. 
The  song  of  my  soul  must  remain  so  long  as  I  remain. 
Let  brotherly  love  continue. 

I  am  sure  that  the  counterfeit  letters  in  circulation, 
purporting  to  have  my  signature,  must  fail  to  influence  the 
minds  of  this  dear  people  to  conclusions  the  very  opposite 
of  my  real  sentiments. 


176  MISCELLANY 

To  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Wilmington,  N.  C. 

In  Appreciation  of  a  Gift  of  Fifty  Dollabs  in  Gold  towards 
THE  Concord  (N.  H.)  Street  Fund 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  Long  ago  you  of  the  dear 
South  paved  the  way  to  my  forever  gratitude,  and  now 
illustrate  the  past  by  your  present  love.  God  grant 
that  such  great  goodness,  pointing  the  path  to  heaven 
within  you,  hallow  your  Palmetto  home  with  palms  of 
victory  and  songs  of  glory. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

DEDICATORY   MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH   CHURCHES 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Chicago,  III. 

BELOVED  Brethren:  —  Most  happily  would  I  com- 
ply with  your  cordial  invitation  and  be  with  you  on 
so  interesting  an  occasion  as  the  dedication  of  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Chicago.  But  daily  duties 
require  attention  elsewhere,  and  I  am  glad  to  say  that 
there  seems  to  be  no  special  need  of  my  personal  pres- 
ence at  your  religious  jubilee.  I  am  quite  able  to  take 
the  trip  to  your  city,  and  if  wisdom  lengthens  my  sum 
of  years  to  fourscore  (already  imputed  to  me),  I  shall 
then  be  even  younger  and  nearer  the  eternal  meridian 
than  now,  for  the  true  knowledge  and  proof  of  life  is  in 
putting  off  the  limitations  and  putting  on  the  possibihties 
and  permanence  of  Life. 

In  your  renowned  city,  the  genesis  of  Christian  Science 
was  allied  to  that  olden  axiom :  "  The  blood  of  the  martyrs 
is  the  seed  of  the  Church;"  but  succeeding  years  show  in 
livid  lines  that  the  great  Shepherd  has  nurtured  and 
nourished  this  church  as  a  fatling  of  the  flock.  To-day 
the  glory  of  His  presence  rests  upon  it,  the  joy  of  many 
generations  awaits  it,  and  this  prophecy  of  Isaiah  is 
fulfilled  among  you:  "I  will  direct  their  work  in  truth, 
and  I  will  make  an  everlasting  covenant  with  them." 

177 


178  MISCELLANY 

Your  Bible  and  your  textbook,  pastor  and  ethical 
tenets,  do  not  mislead  the  'seeker  after  Truth.  These 
unpretentious  preachers  cloud  not  the  spiritual  meaning 
of  Holy  Writ  by  material  interpretations,  nor  lose  the 
invincible  process  and  purity  of  Christianity  whereby 
the  sick  are  healed  and  sinners  saved.  The  Science  of 
Christianity  is  not  generally  understood,  but  it  hastens 
hourly  to  this  end.  This  Science  is  the  essence  of  religion, 
distilled  in  the  laboratory  of  infinite  Love  and  prepared 
for  all  peoples.  And  because  Science  is  naturally  divine, 
is  this  natural  Science  less  profitable  or  scientific  than 
"counting  the  legs  of  insects"?  The  Scripture  declares 
that  God  is  All.  Then  all  is  Spirit  and  spiritual.  The 
true  sense  of  life  is  lost  to  those  who  regard  being 
as  material.  The  Scripture  pronounces  all  that  God 
made  "good;"  therefore  if  evil  exists,  it  exists  without 
God.  But  this  is  impossible  in  reality,  for  He  made 
all  "that  was  made."  Hence  the  inevitable  revelation 
of  Christian  Science  —  that  evil  is  unreal ;  and  this  is 
the  best  of  it. 

On  April  15,  1891,  the  Christian  Science  textbook  lay 
on  a  table  in  a  biffning  building.  A  Christian  Scientist 
entered  the  house  through  a  window  and  snatched  this 
book  from  the  flames.  Instantly  the  table  sank  a  charred 
mass.  The  covers  of  the  book  were  burned  up,  but  not 
one  word  in  the  book  was  effaced.  If  the  world  were  in 
ashes,  the  contents  of  "  Science  and  Health  with  Key  to 
the  Scriptures"  would  remain  immortal. 

It  is  said  that  the  nearest  approach  to  the  sayings  of 
the  great  Master  is  the  Logia  of  Papias,  written  in  a.d. 
145,  and  that  all  else  reported  as  his  sayings  are  transla- 
tions.    The  ancient  Logia,  or  imputed  sayings  of  Jesus 


MESSAGES  TO   BRANCH  CHURCHES      179 

by  Papias,  are  undoubtedly  the  beginning  of  the  gospel 
writings.  The  synoptic  Scriptures,  as  set  forth  in  the 
first  and  second  chapters  of  Genesis,  were  in  two  dis- 
tinct manuscripts.  The  first  gave  an  account  of  the 
spiritual  creation,  and  the  second  was  an  opposite  story, 
or  allegory,  of  a  material  universe  and  man  made  of 
dust.  In  this  allegorical  document  the  power  and  pre- 
rogative of  Spirit  are  submerged  in  matter.  In  other 
words,  soul  enters  non-intelligent  dust  and  man  becomes 
both  good  and  evil,  both  mind  and  matter,  mortal  and 
immortal,  —  all  of  which  divine  Science  shows  to  be  an 
impossibihty. 

The  Old  and  the  New  Testaments  contain  self-evident 
truths  that  cannot  be  lost,  but  being  translations,  the 
Scriptures  are  criticized.  Some  dangerous  skepticism  ex- 
ists as  to  the  verification  of  our  Master's  sayings.  But 
Christians  and  Christian  Scientists  know  that  if  the  Old 
Testament  and  gospel  narratives  had  never  been  written, 
the  nature  of  Christianity,  as  depicted  in  the  life  of  our 
Lord,  and  the  truth  in  the  Scriptures,  are  sufiicient  to  au- 
thenticate Christ's  Christianity  as  the  perfect  ideal.  The 
character  of  the  Nazarene  Prophet  illustrates  the  Prin- 
ciple and  practice  of  a  true  divinity  and  humanity.  The 
different  renderings  or  translations  of  Scripture  in  no 
wise  affect  Christian  Science.  Christianity  and  Science, 
being  contingent  on  nothing  written  and  based  on  the 
divine  Principle  of  being,  must  be,  are,  irrefutable  and 
eternal. 

We  are  indeed  privileged  in  having  the  untranslated 
revelations  of  Christian  Science.  They  afford  such  expo- 
sitions of  the  therapeutics,  ethics,  and  Christianity  of 
Christ  as  make  even  God  demonstrable,  the  divine  Love 


180  MISCELLANY 

♦ 

practical,  and  so  furnish  rules  whereby  man  can  prove 
God's  love,  healing  the  sick  and  the  sinner. 

Whosoever  understands  Christian  Science  knows  beyond 
a  doubt  that  its  life-giving  truths  were  preached  and 
practised  in  the  first  century  by  him  who  proved  their 
practicality,  who  uttered  Christ's  Sermon  on  the  Mount, 
who  taught  his  disciples  the  healing  Christianity  which 
applies  to  all  ages,  and  who  dated  time.  A  spiritual 
understanding  of  the  Scriptures  restores  their  origi- 
nal tongue  in  the  language  of  Spirit,  that  primordial 
standard  of  Truth. 

Christian  Science  contains  no  element  whatever  of  hyp- 
notism or  animal  magnetism.  It  appeals  alone  to  God,  to 
the  divine  Principle,  or  Life,  Truth,  and  Love,  to  whom 
all  things  are  possible;  and  this  Principle  heals  sin,  sick- 
ness, disease,  and  death.  Christian  Science  meets  error 
with  Truth,  death  with  Life,  hate  with  Love,  and  thus, 
and  only  thus,  does  it  overcome  evil  and  heal  disease. 
The  obstinate  sinner,  however,  refuses  to  see  this  grand 
verity  or  to  acknowledge  it,  for  he  knows  not  that  in  justice, 
as  well  as  in  mercy,  God  is  Love. 

In  our  struggles  with  sin  and  sinners,  when  we  drop 
compliance  with  their  desires,  insist  on  what  we  know  is 
right,  and  act  accordingly,  the  disguised  or  the  self- 
satisfied  mind,  not  ready  to  be  uplifted,  rebels,  miscon- 
strues our  best  motives,  and  calls  them  unkind.  But  this 
is  the  cross.  Take  it  up,  —  it  wins  the  crown;  and  in 
the  spirit  of  our  great  Exemplar  pray:  "Father,  forgive 
them;  for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

No  warfare  exists  between  divine  theology  and  Christian 
Science,  for  the  latter  solves  the  whence  and  why  of  the 
cosmos  and  defines  noumenon  and  phenomena  spiritually. 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      181 

not  materially.  The  specific  quest  of  Christian  Science  is 
to  settle  all  points  beyond  cavil,  on  the  Biblical  basis  that 
God  is  All-in-all ;  whereas  philosophy  and  so-called  natural 
science,  dealing  with  human  hyp>otheses,  or  material  cause 
and  effect,  are  aided  only  at  long  intervals  with  elementary 
truths,  and  ultimate  in  unsolved  problems  and  outgrown, 
proofless  positions. 

Progress  is  spiritual.  Progress  is  the  maturing  concep>- 
tion  of  divine  Love ;  it  demonstrates  the  scientific,  sinless 
life  of  man  and  mortal's  painless  departure  from  matter 
to  Spirit,  not  through  death,  but  through  the  true  idea  of 
Life,  —  and  Life  not  in  matter  but  in  Mind. 

The  Puritans  possessed  the  motive  of  true  religion, 
which,  demonstrated  on  the  Golden  Rule,  would  have 
solved  ere  this  the  problem  of  religious  liberty  and  human 
rights.  It  is  "a  consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished" 
that  all  nations  shall  speedily  learn  and  practise  the 
intermediate  line  of  justice  between  the  classes  and  masses 
of  mankind,  and  thus  exemplify  in  all  things  the  universal 
equity  of  Christianity. 

Thirty  years  ago  (1866)  Christian  Science  was  discovered 
in  America.  Within  those  years  it  is  estimated  that 
Chicago  has  gained  from  a  population  of  238,000  to  the 
number  of  1,650,000  inhabitants. 

The  statistics  of  mortality  show  that  thirty  years  ago 
the  death-rate  was  at  its  maximum.  Since  that  time  it 
has  steadily  decreased.  It  is  authentically  said  that  one 
expositor  of  Daniel's  dates  fixed  the  year  1866  or  1867  for 
the  return  of  Christ  —  the  return  of  the  spiritual  idea  to 
the  material  earth  or  antipode  of  heaven.  It  is  a  marked 
coincidence  that  those  dates  were  the  first  two  years  of 
my  discovery  of  Christian  Science. 


182  MISCELLANY 

Thirty  years  ago  Chicago  had  few  Congregational 
churches.  To-day  it  is  said  to  have  a  majority  of  these 
churches  over  any  other  city  in  the  United  States.  Thirty 
years  ago  at  my  request  I  received  from  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  a  letter  of  dismissal  and  recommendation 
to  evangelical  churches  —  thenceforth  to  exemplify  my 
early  love  for  this  church  and  a  membership  of  thirty 
years  by  establishing  a  new-old  church,  the  foundations 
of  which  are  the  same,  even  Christ,  Truth,  as  the  chief 
corner-stone. 

In  1884,  I  taught  a  class  in  Christian  Science  and 
formed  a  Christian  Scientist  Association  in  Chicago. 
From  this  small  sowing  of  the  seed  of  Truth,  which,  when 
sown,  seemed  the  least  among  seeds,  sprang  immortal 
fruits  through  God's  blessing  and  the  faithful  labor  of 
loyal  students,  —  the  healing  of  the  sick,  the  reforming 
of  the  sinner,  and  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  with 
its  large  membership  and  majestic  cathedral. 

Humbly,  gratefully,  trustingly,  I  dedicate  this  beauti- 
ful house  of  worship  to  the  God  of  Israel,  the  divine 
Love  that  reigns  above  the  shadow,  that  launched  the 
earth  in  its  orbit,  that  created  and  governs  the  universe  — 
guarding,  guiding,  giving  grace,  health,  and  immortality 
to  man. 

May  the  wanderer  in  the  wilderness  of  mortal  beliefs 
and  fears  turn  hither  with  satisfied  hope.  May  the  birds 
of  passage  rest  their  weary  wings  amid  the  fair  foliage  of 
this  vine  of  His  husbanding,  find  shelter  from  the  storm 
and  a  covert  from  the  tempest.  May  this  beloved 
church  adhere  to  its  tenets,  abound  in  the  righteousness 
of  Love,  honor  the  name  of  Christian  Science,  prove  the 
practicality  of  perfection,  and  press  on  to  the  infinite 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      183 

uses  of  Christ's  creed,  namely,  —  "  Thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul, 
and  with  all  thy  strength,  and  with  all  thy  mind;  and 
thy  neighbor  as  thyself."  Thus  may  First  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  in  this  great  city  of  Chicago,  verify  what 
John  Robinson  wrote  in  1620  to  our  Pilgrim  Fathers: 
"When  Christ  reigns,  and  not  till  then,  will  the  world 
have  rest." 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
London,  England 

Beloved  Brethren  across  the  Sea:  —  To-day  a  nation  is 
born.  Spiritual  apprehension  unfolds,  transfigures,  heals. 
With  you  be  there  no  more  sea,  no  ebbing  faith,  no  night. 
Love  be  thy  light  upon  the  mountain  of  Israel.  God 
will  multiply  thee. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  rejoice  with  you;  the  day  has 
come  when  the  forest  becomes  a  fruitful  field,  and  the  deaf 
hear  the  words  of  the  Book,  and  the  eyes  of  the  blind  see 
out  of  obscurity. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
t  Detroit,  Mich. 

Beloved  Students  and  Church:  —  Thanks  for  invitation 
to  your  dedication.  Not  afar  off  I  am  blending  with 
thine  my  prayer  and  rejoicing.  God  is  with  thee.  "  Arise, 
shine ;  for  thy  light  is  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is 
risen  upon  thee." 


184  MISCELLANY 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Toronto,  Canada 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  Have  just  received  your  des- 
patch. Since  the  world  was,  men  have  not  heard  with 
the  ear,  neither  hath  the  eye  seen,  what  God  hath  prepared 
for  them  that  wait  upon  Him  and  work  righteousness. 

White  Mountain  Church 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  To-day  I  am  privileged  to 
congratulate  the  Christian  Scientists  of  my  native  State 
upon  having  built  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  at 
the  White  Mountains.  Your  kind  card,  inviting  me  to 
be  present  at  its  dedication,  came  when  I  was  so  occu- 
pied that  I  omitted  to  wire  an  acknowledgment  thereof 
and  to  return  my  cordial  thanks  at  an  earlier  date.  The 
beautiful  birch  bark  on  which  it  was  written  pleased  me; 
it  was  so  characteristic  of  our  Granite  State,  and  I 
treasure  it  next  to  your  compliments.  That  rustic  scroll 
brought  back  to  me  the  odor  of  my  childhood,  a  love 
which  stays  the  shadows  of  years.  God  grant  that  this 
little  church  shall  prove  a  historic  gem  on  the  glowing 
records  of  Christianity,  and  lay  upon  its  altars  a  sacrifice 
and  service  acceptable  in  God's  sight. 

Your  rural  chapel  is  a  social  success  quite  sacred  in  its 
results.  The  prosperity  of  Zion  is  very  precious  in  the 
sight  of  divine  Love,  holding  unwearied  watch  over  a 
world.  Isaiah  said:  " How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains 
are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good  tidings,  .  .  .  that 
saith  unto  Zion,  Thy  God  reigneth!"  Surely,  the  Word 
that  is  God  must  at  some  time  find  utterance  and  accept- 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      185 

ance  throughout  the  earth,  for  he  that  soweth  shall  reap. 
To  such  as  have  waited  patiently  for  the  appearing  of 
Truth,  the  day  dawns  and  the  harvest  bells  are  ringing. 

"Let  us,  then,  be  up  and  doing, 

With  a  heart  for  any  fate; 
Still  achieving,  still  pursuing. 

Learn  to  labor  and  to  wait." 

The  peace  of  Love  is  published,  and  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit  is  drawn;  nor  will  it  be  sheathed  till  Truth  shall 
reign  triumphant  over  all  the  earth.  Truth,  Life,  and 
Love  are  formidable,  wherever  thought,  felt,  spoken,  or 
written,  —  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  court-room,  by  the  way- 
side, or  in  our  homes.  They  are  the  victors  never  to  be 
vanquished.  Love  is  the  generic  term  for  God.  Love 
formed  this  trinity,  Truth,  Life,  Love,  the  trinity  no  man 
can  sunder.  Life  is  the  spontaneity  of  Love,  inseparable 
from  Love,  and  Life  is  the  "Lamb  slain  from  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world,  '  —  even  that  which  "was  dead,  and 
is  ahve  again;  and  was  lost,  and  is  found;"  for  Life  is 
Christ,  and  Christ,  as  aforetime,  heals  the  sick,  saves 
sinners,  and  destroys  the  last  enemy,  death. 

In  1888  I  visited  these  mountains  and  spoke  to  an 
attentive  audience  collected  in  the  hall  at  the  Fabyan 
House.  Then  and  there  I  foresaw  this  hour,  and  spoke 
of  the  little  church  to  be  in  the  midst  of  the  mountains, 
closing  my  remarks  with  the  words  of  Mrs.  Hemans :  — 

For  the  strength  of  the  hills,  we  bless  Thee, 
Our  God,  our  fathers'  God! 

The  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Granite  State  are  rich  in 
signs  and  symbols,  sermons  in  stones,  refuge  in  mountains. 


186  MISCELLANY 

and  good  universal.  The  rocks,  rills,  mountains,  meadows, 
fountains,  and  forests  of  our  native  State  should  be 
prophetic  of  the  finger  divine  that  writes  in  living  char- 
acters their  lessons  on  our  lives.  May  God's  little  ones 
cluster  around  this  rock-ribbed  church  like  tender  nestlings 
in  the  crannies  of  the  rocks,  and  preen  their  thoughts  for 
upward  flight. 

Though  neither  dome  nor  turret  tells  the  tale  of  your 
little  church,  its  song  and  sermon  will  touch  the  heart, 
point  the  path  above  the  valley,  up  the  mountain,  and  on 
to  the  celestial  hills,  echoing  the  Word  welling  up  from 
the  infinite  and  swelling  the  loud  anthem  of  one  Father- 
Mother  God,  o'er  all  victorious!  Rest  assured  that  He 
in  whom  dwelleth  all  life,  health,  and  holiness,  will  supply 
all  your  needs  according  to  His  riches  in  glory. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
DuLUTH,  Minn. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Ditluth,  Minn. :  —  May 
our  God  make  this  church  the  fold  of  flocks,  and  may 
those  that  plant  the  vineyard  eat  the  fruit  thereof.  Here 
let  His  promise  be  verified:  "Before  they  call,  I  will 
answer;  and  while  they  are  yet  speaking,  I  will  hear." 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  Accept  my  thanks  for  your  cordial 
card  inviting  me  to  be  with  you  on  the  day  of  your  church 
dedication.  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  know  that 
you  have  erected  a  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  your 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      187 

city.  Surely,  your  fidelity,  faith,  and  Christian  zeal 
fairiy  indicate  that,  spiritually  as  well  as  literally,  the 
church  in  Salt  Lake  City  hath  not  lost  its  saltness.  I 
may  at  some  near  future  visit  your  city,  but  am  too  busy 
to  think  of  doing  so  at  present. 

May  the  di\ine  light  of  Christian  Science  that  lighteth 
every  enlightened  thought  illumine  your  faith  and  under- 
standing, exclude  all  darkness  or  doubt,  and  signal  the 
perfect  path  wherein  to  w  alk,  the  perfect  Principle  whereby 
to  demonstrate  the  perfect  man  and  the  perfect  law  of 
God.  In  the  words  of  St.  Paul:  "Now  the  end  of  the 
commandment  is  charity  out  of  a  pure  heart,  and  of  a 
good  conscience,  and  of  faith  unfeigned;"  and  St.  John 
says:  "For  this  is  the  message  that  ye  heard  from  the 
beginning,  that  we  should  love  one  another." 

May  the  grace  and  love  of  God  be  and  abide  with 
you  all. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
November  16,  1898. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Atlanta,  Georgia 

My  Beloved  Brethren: — You  have  met  to  conse- 
crate your  beautiful  temple  to  the  worship  of  the  only 
true  God.  Since  the  day  in  which  you  were  brought  into 
the  light  and  liberty  of  His  children,  it  has  been  in  the 
heart*  of  this  people  to  build  a  house  unto  Him  whose 
name  they  would  glorify  in  a  new  commandment  — 
"that  ye  love  one  another."  In  this  new  recognition  of 
the  riches  of  His  love  and  the  majesty  of  His  might  you 
have  built  this  house  —  laid  its  foundations  on  the  rock 


188  MISCELLANY 

of  Christ,  and  the  stone  which  the  builders  rejected  you 
have  made  the  head  of  the  corner.  This  house  is  hallowed 
by  His  promise:  "I  have  hallowed  this  house,  which  thou 
hast  built,  to  put  my  name  there  forever;  and  mine  eyes 
and  mine  heart  shall  be  there  perpetually."  "Now  mine 
eyes  shall  be  open,  and  mine  ears  attent  unto  the  prayer 
that  is  made  in  this  place."  Your  feast  days  will  not  be 
in  commemoration,  but  in  recognition  of  His  presence; 
your  ark  of  the  covenant  will  not  be  brought  out  of  the 
city  of  David,  but  out  of  "the  secret  place  of  the  most 
High,"  whereof  the  Psalmist  sang,  even  the  omniscience 
of  omnipotence;  your  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  will 
not  be  temporary,  but  a  "house  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens;"  your  oracle,  under  the  wings  of 
the  cherubim,  is  Truth's  evangel,  enunciating,  "God  is 
Love." 

In  spirit  I  enter  your  inner  sanctuary,  your  heart's 
heart,  breathing  a  benediction  for  God's  largess.  He 
surely  will  not  shut  me  out  from  your  presence,  and  the 
ponderous  walls  of  your  grand  cathedral  cannot  prevent 
me  from  entering  where  the  heart  of  a  Southron  has 
welcomed  me. 

Christian  Science  has  a  place  in  its  court,  in  which,  like 
beds  in  hospitals,  one  man's  head  lies  at  another's  feet. 
As  you  work,  the  ages  win;  for  the  majesty  of  Christian 
Science  teaches  the  majesty  of  man.  When  it  is  learned 
that  spiritual  sense  and  not  the  material  senses  convey  all 
impressions  to  man,  man  will  naturally  seek  the  Science  of 
his  spiritual  nature,  and  finding  it,  be  God-endowed  for 
discipleship. 

When  divine  Love  gains  admittance  to  a  humble  heart, 
that  individual  ascends  the  scale  of  miracles  and  meets  the 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      189 

warmest  wish  of  men  and  angels.  Clad  in  invincible 
armor,  grasping  the  sword  of  Spirit,  you  have  started  in 
this  sublime  ascent,  and  should  reach  the  mount  of  revela- 
tion; for  if  ye  would  run,  who  shall  hinder  you?  So  dear, 
so  due,  to  God  is  obedience,  that  it  reaches  high  heaven 
in  the  common  walks  of  life,  and  it  affords  even  me  a 
perquisite  of  joy. 

You  worship  no  distant  deity,  nor  talk  of  unknown 
love.  The  silent  prayers  of  our  churches,  resounding 
through  the  dim  corridors  of  time,  go  forth  in  waves  of 
sound,  a  diapason  of  heart-beats,  vibrating  from  one 
pulpit  to  another  and  from  one  heart  to  another,  till 
truth  and  love,  commingling  in  one  righteous  prayer, 
shall  encircle  and  cement  the  human  race. 

The  government  of  divine  Love  derives  its  omnipotehce 
from  the  love  it  creates  in  the  heart  of  man;  for  love  is 
allegiant,  and  there  is  no  loyalty  apart  from  love.  When 
the  human  senses  wake  from  their  long  slumber  to  see  how 
soon  earth's  fables  flee  and  faith  grows  wearisome,  then 
that  which  defies  decay  and  satisfies  the  immortal  cravings 
is  sought  and  found.  In  the  twilight  of  the  world's 
pageantry,  in  the  last-drawn  sigh  of  a  glory  gone,  we  are 
drawn  towards  God. 

Beloved  brethren,  I  cannot  forget  that  yours  is  the  first 
church  edifice  of  our  denomination  erected  in  the  sunny 
South  —  once  my  home.  There  my  husband  died,  and 
the  song  and  the  dirge,  surging  my  being,  gave  expression 
to  a  poem  written  in  1844,  from  which  I  copy  this  verse :  — 

Friends,  why  throng  in  pity  round  me? 

Wherefore,  pray,  the  bell  did  toll? 
Dead  is  he  who  loved  me  dearly : 

Am  I  not  alone  in  soul? 


190  MISCELLANY 

Did  that  midnight  shadow,  falHng  upon  the  bridal 
wreath,  bring  the  recompense  of  human  woe,  which  is  the 
merciful  design  of  divine  Love,  and  so  help  to  evolve  that 
larger  sympathy  for  suffering  humanity  which  is  eman- 
cipating it  with  the  morning  beams  and  noonday  glory  of 
Christian  Science? 

The  age  is  fast  answering  this  question :  Does  Christian 
Science  equal  materia  medica  in  healing  the  worst  forms 
of  contagious  and  organic  diseases?  My  experience  in 
both  practices  —  materia  medica  and  the  scientific  meta- 
physical practice  of  medicine  —  shows  the  latter  not  only 
equalling  but  vastly  excelling  the  former. 

Christians  who  accept  our  Master  as  authority,  regard 
his  sayings  as  infallible.  Jesus'  students,  failing  to  cure  a 
severe  case  of  lunacy,  asked  their  great  Teacher,  "Why 
could  not  we  cast  him  out?"  He  answered,  "This  kind 
goeth  not  out  but  by  prayer  and  fasting."  This  declara- 
tion of  our  Master,  as  to  the  relative  value,  skill,  and 
certainty  of  the  divine  laws  of  Mind  over  the  human 
mind  and  above  matter  in  healing  disease,  remains  beyond 
questioning  a  divine  decision  in  behalf  of  Mind. 

Jesus  gave  his  disciples  (students)  power  over  all  manner 
of  diseases;  and  the  Bible  was  written  in  order  that  all 
peoples,  in  all  ages,  should  have  the  same  opportunity  to 
become  students  of  the  Christ,  Truth,  and  thus  become 
God-endued  with  power  (knowledge  of  divine  law)  and 
with  "  signs  following."  Jesus  declared  that  his  teaching 
and  practice  would  remain,  even  as  it  did,  "for  them  also 
which  shall  believe  on  me  through  their  word."  Then, 
in  the  name  of  God,  wherefore  vilify  His  prophets  to-day 
who  are  fulfilling  Jesus'  prophecy  and  verifying  his  last 
promise,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway"?    It  were  well  for 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      191 

the  world  if  there  sur\'ived  more  of  the  wisdom  of  Nico- 
demus  of  old,  who  said,  "No  man  can  do  these  miracles 
that  thou  doest,  except  God  be  with  him." 

Be  patient  towards  persecution.  Injustice  has  not  a 
tithe  of  the  power  of  justice.  Your  enemies  will  advertise 
for  you.  Christian  Science  is  spreading  steadily  through- 
out the  world.  Persecution  is  the  weakness  of  tyrants 
engendered  by  their  fear,  and  love  will  cast  it  out.  Con- 
tinue steadfast  in  love  and  good  works.  Children  of 
light,  you  are  not  children  of  darkness.  Let  your  light 
shine.  Keep  in  mind  the  foundations  of  Christian 
Science  —  one  God  and  one  Christ.  Keep  personality 
out  of  sight,  and  Christ's  "Blessed  are  ye"  will  seal  your 
apostleship. 

This  glad  Easter  morning  witnesseth  a  risen  Sa  iour,  a 
higher  human  sense  of  Life  and  Love,  which  wipes  away 
all  tears.  With  grave-clothes  laid  aside,  Christ,  Truth,  has 
come  forth  from  the  tomb  of  the  past,  clad  in  immortality. 
The  sepulchres  give  up  their  dead.  Spirit  is  saying  unto 
matter :  I  am  not  there,  am  not  within  you.  Behold  the 
place  where  they  laid  me;  but  human  thought  has  risen! 

^Mortality's  thick  gloom  is  pierced.  The  stone  is  rolled 
away.  Death  has  lost  its  sting,  and  the  grave  its  victory. 
Immortal  courage  fills  the  human  breast  and  lights  the 
living  way  of  Life, 

Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Chicago,  III. 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  Your  card  of  invitation  to  this 
feast  of  soul  —  the  dedication  of  your  church  —  was  duly 
received.     Accept  my  thanks. 


192  MISCELLANY 

Ye  sit  not  in  the  idol's  temple.  Ye  build  not  to  an 
unknown  God.  Ye  worship  Him  whom  ye  serve.  Boast 
not  thyself,  thou  ransomed  of  divine  Love,  but  press  on 
unto  the  possession  of  unburdened  bUss.  Heal  the  sick, 
make  spotless  the  blemished,  raise  the  living  dead,  cast 
out  fashionable  lunacy. 

The  ideal  robe  of  Christ  is  seamless.  Thou  hast  touched 
its  hem,  and  thou  art  being  healed.  The  risen  Christ  is 
thine.  The  haunting  mystery  and  gloom  of  his  glory 
rule  not  this  century.  Thine  is  the  upspringing  hope,  the 
conquest  over  sin  and  mortahty,  that  lights  the  living 
way  to  Life,  not  to  death. 

May  the  God  of  our  fathers,  the  infinite  Person  whom 
we  worship,  be  and  abide  with  you.  May  the  blessing  of 
divine  Love  rest  with  you.  My  heart  hovers  around  your 
churches  in  Chicago,  for  the  dove  of  peace  sits  smilingly 
on  these  branches  and  sings  of  our  Redeemer. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Beloved  Students:  —  Your  kind  letter,  inviting  me  to 
be  present  at  the  dedication  of  your  church,  was  duly 
received.  It  would  indeed  give  me  pleasure  to  visit  you, 
to  witness  your  prosperity,  and  "rejoice  with  them  that 
do  rejoice,"  but  the  constant  recurring  demands  upon 
my  time  and  attention  pin  me  to  my  post.  Of  this, 
however,  I  can  sing:  My  love  can  fly  on  wings  of  joy  to 
you  and  leave  a  leaf  of  olive;  it  can  whisper  to  you  of 
the  divine  ever-presence,  answering  your  prayers,  crown- 
ing your  endeavors,  and  building  for  you  a  house  "eternal 
in  the  heavens." 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      193 

You  will  dedicate  your  temple  in  faith  unfeigned,  not  to 
the  unknown  God,  but  unto  Him  whom  to  know  aright 
is  life  everlasting.  His  presence  with  you  will  bring  to 
your  hearts  so  much  of  heaven  that  you  will  not  feel  my 
absence.  The  privilege  remains  mine  to  watch  and  work 
for  all,  from  East  to  West,  from  the  greensward  and 
gorgeous  skies  of  the  Orient  to  your  dazzling  glory 
in  the  Occident,  and  to  thank  God  forever  "for  His 
goodness,  and  for  His  wonderful  works  to  the  children 
of  men." 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
November  20,  1902. 

Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
MiNNEAPOUs,  Minn. 

Beloved:  —  The  spiritual  dominates  the  temporal.  Love 
gives  nothing  to  take  away.  Nothing  dethrones  His 
house.  You  are  dedicating  yours  to  Him.  Protesting 
against  error,  you  unite  with  all  who  believe  in  Truth. 
God  guard  and  guide  you. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  Carlyle  writes,  "Give  a  thing  time; 
if  it  succeeds,  it  is  a  right  thing."  Here  I  aver  that  you 
have  grasped  time  and  labor,  taking  the  first  by  the  fore- 
lock and  the  last  by  love.  In  this  lofty  temple,  dedicated 
to  God  and  humanity,  may  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah  be 
fulfilled:  "Fear  not:  ...  I  have  called  thee  by  thy 
name;  thou   art  mine."     Within   its  sacred  walls  may 


194  MISCELLANY 

song  and  sermon  generate  only  that  which  Christianity 
writes  in  broad  facts  over  great  continents  —  sermons 
that  fell  forests  and  remove  mountains,  songs  of  joy 
and  gladness. 

The  letter  of  your  work  dies,  as  do  all  things  material, 
but  the  spirit  of  it  is  immortal.  Remember  that  a  temple 
but  foreshadows  the  idea  of  God,  the  "house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,"  while  a  silent,  grand 
man  or  woman,  healing  sickness  and  destroying  sin, 
builds  that  which  reaches  heaven.  Only  those  men  and 
women  gain  greatness  who  gain  themselves  in  a  complete 
subordination  of  self. 

The  tender  memorial  engraven  on  your  grand  edifice 
stands  for  human  self  lost  in  divine  light,  melted  into  the 
radiance  of  His  likeness.  It  stands  for  meekness  and 
might,  for  Truth  as  attested  by  the  Founder  of  your 
denomination  and  emblazoned  on  the  fair  escutcheon  of 
your  church. 

Beloved  Students: — Your  telegram,  in  which  you  pre- 
sent to  me  the  princely  gift  of  your  magnificent  church 
edifice  in  New  York  City,  is  an  unexpected  token  of  your 
gratitude  and  love.  I  deeply  appreciate  it,  profoundly 
thank  you  for  it,  and  gratefully  accept  the  spirit  of  it; 
but  I  must  decline  to  receive  that  for  which  you  have 
sacrificed  so  much  and  labored  so  long.  May  divine 
Love  abundantly  bless  you,  reward  you  according  to 
your  works,  guide  and  guard  you  and  your  church 
through  the  depths;    and  may  you 

"Who  stood  the  storm  when  seas  were  rough, 
Ne'er  in  a  sunny  hour  fall  off." 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      195 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Cleveland,  Ohio 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  You  will  pardon  my  delay  in 
acknowledging  your  card  of  invitation  to  the  dedicatory 
services  of  your  church.  Adverse  circumstances,  loss  of 
help,  new  problems  to  be  worked  out  for  the  field,  etc., 
have  hitherto  prevented  my  reply.  However,  it  is  never 
too  late  to  repent,  to  love  more,  to  work  more,  to  watch 
and  pray;  but  those  privileges  I  have  not  had  time  to 
express,  and  so  have  submitted  to  necessity,  letting  the 
deep  love  which  I  cherished  for  you  be  hidden  under  an 
appearance  of  indifference. 

We  must  resign  with  good  grace  what  we  are  denied,  and 
press  on  with  what  we  are,  for  we  cannot  do  more  than  we 
are  nor  understand  what  is  not  ripening  in  us.  To  do 
good  to  all  because  we  love  all,  and  to  use  in  God's  service 
the  one  talent  that  we  all  have,  is  our  only  means  of 
adding  to  that  talent  and  the  best  way  to  silence  a  deep 
discontent  with  our  shortcomings. 

Christian  Science  is  at  length  learned  to  be  no  miserable 
piece  of  ideal  legerdemain,  by  which  we  poor  mortals  ex- 
pect to  live  and  die,  but  a  deep-drawn  breath  fresh  from 
God,  by  whom  and  in  whom  man  lives,  moves,  and  has 
deathless  being.  The  praiseworthy  success  of  this  church, 
and  its  united  efforts  to  build  an  edifice  in  which  to  worship 
the  infinite,  sprang  from  the  temples  erected  first  in  the 
hearts  of  its  members  —  the  unselfed  love  that  builds 
without  hands,  eternal  in  the  heaven  of  Spirit.  God 
grant  that  this  unity  remain,  and  that  you  continue  to 
build,  rebuild,  adorn,  and  fill  these  spiritual  temples  with 
grace.  Truth,  Life,  and  Love. 


196  MISCELLANY 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  I  congratulate  you  upon  erect- 
ing the  first  edifice  of  our  denomination  in  the  Keystone 
State,  a  State  whose  metropoHs  is  called  the  "city  of 
brotherly  love."  May  this  dear  church  militant  accept 
my  tender  counsel  in  these  words  of  the  Scripture,  to  be 
engrafted  in  church  and  State :  — 

"  Let  every  man  be  swift  to  hear,  slow  to  speak,  slow  to 
wrath."  "He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the 
mighty;  and  he  that  ruleth  his  spirit  than  he  that  taketh 
a  city."  "If  any  man  offend  not  in  word,  the  same  is 
a  perfect  man,  and  able  also  to  bridle  the  whole  body." 
"By  thy  words  thou  shalt  be  condemned."  "Love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself." 

"Christ  also  suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  example, 
that  [we]  should  follow  his  steps :  .  .  .  who,  when  he  was 
reviled,  reviled  not  again ;  when  he  suffered,  he  threatened 
not;  but  committed  himself  to  Him  that  judgeth  right- 
eously." "  Consider  him  that  endured  such  contradiction 
of  sinners  against  himself,  lest  ye  be  wearied  and  faint  in 
your  minds." 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  The  good  in  being,  even  the 
spiritually  indispensable,  is  your  daily  bread.  Work  and 
pray  for  it.  The  poor  toil  for  our  bread,  and  we  should 
work  for  their  health  and  holiness.  Over  the  glaciers  of 
winter  the  summer  glows.    The  beauty  of  holiness  comes 


MESSAGES  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES      197 

with  the  departure  of  sin.  Enjoying  good  things  is 
not  evil,  but  becoming  slaves  to  pleasure  is.  That  error 
is  most  forcible  which  is  least  distinct  to  conscience. 
Attempt  nothing  without  God's  help. 

May  the  beauty  of  holiness  be  upon  this  dear  people, 
and  may  this  beloved  church  be  glorious,  without  spot 
or  blemish. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
San  Josfi,  Cal. 

Beloved  Students:  —  Words  are  inadequate  to  express 
my  deep  appreciation  of  your  labor  and  success  in  com- 
pleting and  dedicating  your  church  edifice,  and  of  the 
great  hearts  and  ready  hands  of  our  far  Western  students, 
the  Christian  Scientists. 

Comparing  such  students  with  those  whose  words 
are  but  the  substitutes  for  works,  we  learn  that  the 
translucent  atmosphere  of  the  former  must  illumine  the 
midnight  of  the  latter,  else  Christian  Science  will  dis- 
appear from  among  mortals. 

I  thank  divine  Love  for  the  hope  set  before  us  in  the 
Word  and  in  the  doers  thereof,  "  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven." 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Wilmington,  N.  C. 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  At  this  dedicatory  season  of 
your  church  edifice  in  the  home  of  my  heart,  I  send  lov- 
ing congratulations,  join  with  you  in  song  and  sermon. 
God  will  bless  the  work  of  your  hearts  and  hands. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
July  27,  1907. 


198  MISCELLANY 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
London,  England 

Beloved  Students  and  Brethren:  —  Your  letters  of  May  1 
and  June  19,  informing  me  of  the  dedication  of  your 
magnificent  church  edifice,  have  been  received  with  many 
thanks  to  you  and  great  gratitude  to  our  one  Father. 

May  God  grant  not  only  the  continuance  of  His  favors, 
but  their  abundant  and  ripened  fruit. 

Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 
June  26,  1909. 


CHAPTER  IX 

LETTERS  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

MY  Beloved  Students  and  Brethren:  —  I  rejoice 
with  thee.  Blessed  art  thou.  In  place  of  dark- 
ness, Hght  hath  sprung  up.  The  reward  of  thy  hands 
is  given  thee  to-day.  May  God  say  this  of  the  church 
in  Philadelphia:  I  have  naught  against  thee. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  The  Board  of  Directors  and 
Trustees  of  this  church  will  please  accept  my  grateful 
acknowledgment  of  the  receipt  of  their  Christian  canon 
pertaining  to  the  hour.  The  joint  resolutions  contained 
therein  show  explicitly  the  attitude  of  this  church  in  our 
capital  towards  me  and  towards  the  Cause  of  Christian 
Science,  so  dear  to  our  hearts  and  to  all  loyal  lovers  of 
God  and  man. 

This  year,  standing  on  the  verge  of  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury, has  sounded  the  tocsin  of  a  higher  hope,  of  strength- 
ened hands,  of  unveiled  hearts,  of  fourfold  unity  between 
the  churches  of  our  denomination  in  this  and  in  other 

199 


200  MISCELLANY 

lands.  Religious  liberty  and  individual  rights  under  the 
Constitution  of  our  nation  are  rapidly  advancing,  avow- 
ing and  consolidating  the  genius  of  Christian  Science. 

Heaven  be  praised  for  the  signs  of  the  times.  Let  "the 
heathen  rage,  and  the  people  imagine  a  vain  thing;"  our 
trust  is  in  the  Almighty  God,  who  ruleth  in  heaven  and 
upon  earth,  and  none  can  stay  His  hand  or  say,  "What 
doest  thou?" 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
London,  England 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  The  chain  of  Christian  unity, 
unbroken,  stretches  across  the  sea  and  rises  upward  to  the 
realms  of  incorporeal  Life  —  even  to  the  glorious  beati- 
tudes of  divine  Love.  Striving  to  be  good,  to  do  good,  and 
to  love  our  neighbor  as  ourself,  man's  soul  is  safe;  man 
emerges  from  mortality  and  receives  his  rights  inalienable 
—  the  love  of  God  and  man.  What  holds  us  to  the  Chris- 
tian life  is  the  seven-fold  shield  of  honesty,  purity,  and 
unselfed  love.  I  need  not  say  this  to  you,  for  you  know 
the  way  in  Christian  Science. 

Pale,  sinful  sense,  at  work  to  lift  itself  on  crumbling 
thrones  of  justice  by  pulling  down  its  benefactors, 
will  tumble  from  this  scheme  into  the  bottomless 
abyss  of  self-damnation,  there  to  relinquish  its  league 
with  evil.  Wide  yawns  the  gap  between  this  course 
and  Christian  Science. 

God  spare  this  plunge,  lessen  its  depths,  save  sin- 
ners and  fit  their  being  to  recover  its  connection  with 
its  divine  Principle,  Love.  For  this  I  shall  continue  to 
pray. 


LETTERS  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES        201 

God  is  blessing  you,  my  beloved  students  and  breth- 
ren. Press  on  towards  the  high  calling  whereunto 
divine  Love  has  called  us  and  is  fast  fulfilling  the 
promises. 

Satan  is  unchained  only  for  a  season,  as  the  Revelator 
foresaw,  and  love  and  good  will  to  man,  sweeter  than  a 
sceptre,  are  enthroned  now  and  forever. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

My  Beloved  Brethren:  —  Your  Soul-full  words  and  song 
repeat  my  legacies  in  blossom.  Such  elements  of  friend- 
ship, faith,  and  hope  repossess  us  of  heaven.  I  thank 
you  out  of  a  full  heart.  Even  the  crown  of  thorns,  which 
mocked  the  bleeding  brow  of  our  blessed  Lord,  was  over- 
crowned  with  a  diadem  of  duties  done.  So  let  us  meekly 
meet,  mercifully  forgive,  wisely  ponder,  and  lovingly 
scan  the  convulsions  of  mortal  mind,  that  its  sudden 
saUies  may  help  us,  not  to  a  start,  but  to  a  tenure  of 
unprecarious  jo}'.  Rich  hope  have  I  in  him  who  says  in 
his  heart :  — 

I  will  listen  for  Thy  voice, 

Lest  my  footsteps  stray; 
I  w-ill  follow  and  rejoice 

All  the  rugged  way. 

Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  Please  accept  a  line  from  me  in  lieu 
of  my  presence  on  the  auspicious  occasion  of  the  open- 
ing of  your  new  church  edifice.     Hope  springs  exultant 


202       '  MISCELLANY 

on  this  blest  morn.  May  its  white  wings  overshadow  this 
white  temple  and  soar  above  it,  pointing  the  path  from 
earth  to  heaven  —  from  human  ambition,  fear,  or  distrust 
to  the  faith,  meekness,  and  might  of  him  who  hallowed 
this  Easter  morn. 

Now  may  his  salvation  draw  near,  for  the  night  is  far 
spent  and  the  day  is  at  hand.  In  the  words  of  St.  Paul : 
"Render  therefore  to  all  their  dues:  tribute  to  whom 
tribute  is  due;  custom  to  whom  custom;  .  .  .  honor  to 
whom  honor.  Owe  no  man  any  thing,  but  to  love  one 
another:  for  he  that  loveth  another  hath  fulfilled  the 
law." 

May  the  benediction  of  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful," 
rest  worthily  on  the  builders  of  this  beautiful  temple,  and 
the  glory  of  the  resurrection  morn  burst  upon  the  spiritual 
sense  of  this  people  with  renewed  vision,  infinite  mean- 
ings, endless  hopes,  and  glad  victories  in  the  onward  and 
upward  chain  of  being. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Oakland,  Cal. 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  thank  you  for  the  words  of  cheer 
and  love  in  your  letter.  The  taper  unseen  in  sunlight 
cheers  the  darkness.  My  work  is  reflected  light,  —  a 
drop  from  His  ocean  of  love,  from  the  underived  glory, 
the  divine  Esse.  From  the  dear  tone  of  your  letter, 
you  must  be  bringing  your  sheaves  into  the  store- 
house. Press  on.  The  way  is  narrow  at  first,  but  it 
expands  as  we  walk  in  it.  "Herein  is  my  Father  glori- 
fied, that  ye  bear  much  fruit."  God  bless  this  vine  of 
His  planting. 


LETTERS  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES       203 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  have  nothing  new  to  communi- 
cate; all  is  in  your  textbooks.  Pray  aright  and  demon- 
strate your  prayer;  sing  in  faith.  Know  that  religion 
should  be  distinct  in  our  consciousness  and  life,  but  not 
clamorous  for  worldly  distinction.  Church  laws  which 
are  obeyed  without  mutiny  are  God's  laws.  Goodness 
and  philanthropy  begin  with  work  and  never  stop  working. 
All  that  is  worth  reckoning  is  what  we  do,  and  the  best  of 
ever\'thing  is  not  too  good,  but  is  economy  and  riches. 
Be  great  not  as  a  grand  obelisk,  nor  by  setting  up  to  be 
great,  —  only  as  good.  A  spiritual  hero  is  a  mark  for 
gamesters,  but  he  is  unutterably  valiant,  the  summary  of 
suffering  here  and  of  heaven  hereafter.  Our  thoughts 
beget  our  actions;  they  make  us  what  we  are.  Dis- 
honesty is  a  mental  malady  which  kills  its  possessor;  it 
is  a  sure  precursor  that  its  possessor  is  mortal.  A  deep 
sincerity  is  sure  of  success,  for  God  takes  care  of  it.  God 
bless  this  dear  church,  and  I  am  sure  that  He  will  if  it  is 
ready  for  the  blessing. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
London,  Engl.\nd 

Beloved  Students: — You  have  laid  the  corner-stone  of 
your  church  edifice  impressively,  and  buried  immortal 
truths  in  the  bosom  of  earth  safe  from  all  chance  of  being 
challenged. 

You  whose  labors  are  doing  so  much  to  benefit  mankind 
will  not  be  impatient  if  you  have  not  accomplished  all  you 


204  MISCELLANY 

desire,  nor  will  you  be  long  in  doing  more.  My  faith  in 
God  and  in  His  followers  rests  in  the  fact  that  He  is  infinite 
good,  and  that  He  gives  His  followers  opportunity  to  use 
their  hidden  virtues,  to  put  into  practice  the  power  which 
lies  concealed  in  the  calm  and  which  storms  awaken  to 
vigor  and  to  victory. 

It  is  only  by  looking  heavenward  that  mutual  friend- 
ships such  as  ours  can  begin  and  never  end.  Over  sea 
and  over  land.  Christian  Science  unites  its  true  followers 
in  one  Principle,  divine  Love,  that  sacred  ave  and  essence 
of  Soul  which  makes  them  one  in  Christ. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Columbus,  Ohio 

In  Reply  to  a  Letter  Announcing  the  Purpose  of  the 
Christian  Scientists  to  Practise  without  Fees  in  Com- 
pliance WITH  THE  State  Laws 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  congratulate  you  tenderly  on  the 
decision  you  have  made  as  to  the  present  practice  of 
Christian  Science  in  your  State,  and  thoroughly  recom- 
mend it  under  the  circumstances.  I  practised  gratui- 
tously when  starting  this  great  Cause,  which  was  then  the 
scoff  of  the  age. 

The  too  long  treatment  of  a  disease,  the  charging  of 
the  sick  whom  you  have  not  healed  a  full  fee  for  treat- 
ment, the  suing  for  payment,  hypnotism,  and  the  resent- 
ing of  injuries,  are  not  the  fruits  of  Christian  Science, 
while  returning  good  for  evil,  loving  one's  enemies,  and 
overcoming  evil  with  good, — these  are  its  fruits; 
and  its  therapeutics,  based  as  aforetime  on  this  divine 
Principle,  heals  all  disease. 


LETTERS  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES        205 

We  read  in  the  Scriptures:  "There  is  therefore  now  no 
condemnation  to  them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk 
not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit."  "Stand  fast 
therefore  in  the  hberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  us 
free."  "Be  ye  therefore  wise  as  serpents,  and  harmless 
as  doves." 

Wisdom  is  won  through  faith,  prayer,  experience;  and 
God  is  the  giver. 

"God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way 

His  wonders  to  jjerform; 
He  plants  His  footsteps  in  the  sea 

And  rides  u|)on  the  storm." 


Third  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
London,  England 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  Love  and  unity  are  hieroglyphs  of 
goodness,  and  their  philosophical  impetus,  spiritual 
^sculapius  and  Hygeia,  saith,  "As  the  thought  is,  so  is  the 
deed;  as  the  thing  made  is  good  or  bad,  so  is  its  maker." 
This  idealism  connects  itself  with  spiritual  understanding, 
and  so  makes  God  more  supreme  in  consciousness,  man 
more  His  likeness,  friends  more  faithful,  and  enemies 
harmless.  Scholastic  theology  at  its  best  touches  but  the 
hem  of  Christian  Science,  shorn  of  all  personality,  wholly 
apart  from  human  hypotheses,  matter,  creed  and  dogma, 
the  lust  of  the  flesh  and  the  pride  of  power.  Christian 
Science  is  the  full  idea  of  its  divine  Principle,  God;  it  is 
forever  based  on  Love,  and  it  is  demonstrated  by  perfect 
rules;  it  is  unerring.  Hence  health,  holiness,  immortality, 
are  its  natural  effects.  The  practitioner  may  fail,  but  the 
Science  never. 


206  MISCELLANY 

Philosophical  links,  which  would  unite  dead  mat- 
ter with  animate,  Spirit  with  matter  and  material 
means,  prayer  with  power  and  pride  of  position,  hinder 
the  divine  influx  and  lose  Science,  —  lose  the  Principle 
of  divine  metaphysics  and  the  tender  grace  of  spiritual 
understanding,  that  love-linked  holiness  which  heals 
and  saves. 

Schisms,  imagination,  and  human  beliefs  are  not 
parts  of  Christian  Science;  they  darken  the  discern- 
ment of  Science;  they  divide  Truth's  garment  and  cast 
lots  for  it. 

Seeing  a  man  in  the  moon,  or  seeing  a  person  in  the 
picture  of  Jesus,  or  believing  that  you  see  an  individual 
who  has  passed  through  the  shadow  called  death,  is 
not  seeing  the  spiritual  idea  of  God;  but  it  is  seeing 
a  human  belief,  which  is  far  from  the  fact  that  portrays 
Life,  Truth,  Love. 

May  these  words  of  the  Scriptures  comfort  you:  "The 
Lord  shall  be  unto  thee  an  everlasting  light,  and  thy  God 
thy  glory."  "The  city  had  no  need  of  the  sun,  neither 
of  the  moon,  to  shine  in  it:  for  the  glory  of  God  did 
lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof."  "Ye 
are  a  chosen  generation,  a  royal  priesthood,  an  holy 
nation,  a  peculiar  people;  that  ye  should  show  forth  the 
praises  of  Him  who  hath  called  you  out  of  darkness  into 
His  marvellous  light."  "Giving  thanks  unto  the  Father, 
which  hath  made  us  meet  to  be  partakers  of  the  inherit- 
ance of  the  saints  in  light:  who  hath  delivered  us  from 
the  power  of  darkness,  and  hath  translated  us  into  the 
kingdom  of  His  dear  Son."  "Ye  were  sometimes  dark- 
ness, but  now  are  ye  hght  in  the  Lord:  walk  as  children 
of  light." 


LETTERS  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES        207 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Beloved  Brethren :  —  Your  communication  is  gratefully 
received.  Press  on!  The  wrath  of  men  shall  praise  God, 
and  the  remainder  thereof  He  will  restram. 

A  Telegram  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 

Beloved  Leader:  —  The  representatives  of  churches  and 
societies  of  Christian  Science  in  Missouri,  in  annual 
conference  assembled,  unite  in  loving  greetings  to  you, 
and  pledge  themselves  to  strive  more  earnestly,  day 
by  day,  for  the  clearer  understanding  and  more  perfect 
manifestation  of  the  truth  which  you  have  unfolded  to 
the  world,  and  by  which  sin  and  sickness  are  destroyed 
and  life  and  immortaUty  brought  to  light. 
Yours  in  loving  obedience, 
Churches  and  Societies  of  Christian 

Science  in  Missouri. 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
January  5,  1909. 

MRS.   eddy's  reply 

"Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant:  .  .  .  enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord "  —  the  satisfaction  of 
meeting  and  mastering  evil  and  defending  good,  thus 
predicating  man  upon  divine  Science.  (See  Science 
and  Health,  p.  227.) 

Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 
January  6,  1909. 


208  MISCELLANY 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Sydney,  Australia 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  Accept  my  deep  thanks  for  your 
highly  interesting  letter.  It  would  seem  as  if  the  whole 
import  of  Christian  Science  had  been  mirrored  forth  by 
your  loving  hearts,  to  reflect  its  heavenly  rays  over  all  the 
earth. 

Box  G,  Brooklink,  Mass., 
July  15,  1909. 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Edinburgh,  Scotland 

Beloved  Christian  Scientists:  —  Like  the  gentle  dews  of 
heaven  and  the  refreshing  breeze  of  morn,  comes  your 
dear  letter  to  my  waiting  heart,  —  waiting  in  due  expec- 
tation of  just  such  blessedness,  crowning  the  hope  and 
hour  of  divine  Science,  than  which  nothing  can  exceed 
its  ministrations  of  God  to  man. 

I  congratulate  you  on  the  prospect  of  erecting  a  church 
building,  wherein  to  gather  in  praise  and  prayer  for  the 
whole  human  family.* 

Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
November  2,  1909. 

The  Committees  in  Conference,  Chicago,  III. 

The  Committees:  —  God  bless  the  courageous,  far-seeing 
committees  in  conference  for  their  confidence  in  His 
ways  and  means  of  reaching  the  very  acme  of  Christian 
Science. 


LETTERS  TO  BRANCH  CHURCHES        209 

Comment  on  Letter  from  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  Ottawa,  Ontario 

God  will  abundantly  bless  this  willing  and  obedient 
church  with  the  rich  reward  of  those  that  seek  and  serve 
Him.  No  greater  hope  have  we  than  in  right  thinking 
and  right  acting,  and  faith  in  the  blessing  of  fidelity, 
courage,  patience,  and  grace. 


CHAPTER  X 
ADMONITION  AND  COUNSEL 

What  Our  Leader  Says 

BELOVED  Christian  Scientists,  keep  your  minds  so 
filled  with  Truth  and  Love,  that  sin,  disease,  and 
death  cannot  enter  them.  It  is  plain  that  nothing  can 
be  added  to  the  mind  already  full.  There  is  no  door 
through  which  evil  can  enter,  and  no  space  for  evil  to  fill 
in  a  mind  filled  with  goodness.  Good  thoughts  are  an 
impervious  armor;  clad  therewith  you  are  completely 
shielded  from  the  attacks  of  error  of  every  sort.  And  not 
only  yourselves  are  safe,  but  all  whom  your  thoughts  rest 
upon  are  thereby  benefited. 

The  self-seeking  pride  of  the  evil  thinker  injures  him 
when  he  would  harm  others.  Goodness  involuntarily 
resists  evil.  The  evil  thinker  is  the  proud  talker  and 
doer.  The  right  thinker  abides  under  the  shadow  of  the 
Almighty.  His  thoughts  can  only  reflect  peace,  good  will 
towards  men,  health,  and  holiness.^ 

Ways  that  are  Vain 

Certain  individuals  entertain  the  notion  that  Chris- 
tian Science  Mind-healing  should  be  two-sided,  and  only 
denounce  error  in  general,  —  saying  nothing,  in  particu- 

^  Copyright,  1909,  by  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
210 


WAYS  THAT  ARE  VAIN  211 

lar,  of  error  that  is  damning  men.  They  are  sticklers 
for  a  false,  convenient  peace,  straining  at  gnats  and 
swallowing  camels.  The  unseen  wrong  to  individuals 
and  society  they  are  too  cowardly,  too  ignorant,  or  too 
wicked  to  uncover,  and  excuse  themselves  by  denying 
that  this  evil  exists.  This  mistaken  way,  of  hiding  sin 
in  order  to  maintain  harmony,  has  licensed  evil,  allowing 
it  first  to  smoulder,  and  then  break  out  in  devouring 
flames.  All  that  error  asks  is  to  be  let  alone;  even  as 
in  Jesus'  time  the  unclean  spirits  cried  out,  "  Let  us 
alone;  what  have  we  to  do  with  thee?  " 

Animal  magnetism,  in  its  ascending  steps  of  evil, 
entices  its  victim  by  unseen,  silent  arguments.  Revers- 
ing the  modes  of  good,  in  their  silent  allurements  to 
health  and  holiness,  it  impels  mortal  mind  into  error  of 
thought,  and  tempts  into  the  committal  of  acts  foreign 
to  the  natural  inclinations.  The  victims  lose  their 
individuality,  and  lend  themselves  as  willing  tools  to 
carry  out  the  designs  of  their  worst  enemies,  even  those 
who  would  induce  their  self-destruction.  Animal  mag- 
netism fosters  suspicious  distrust  where  honor  is  due,  fear 
where  courage  should  be  strongest,  reliance  where  there 
should  be  avoidance,  a  belief  in  safety  where  there  is 
most  danger;  and  these  miserable  lies,  poured  constantly 
into  his  mind,  fret  and  confuse  it,  spoiling  that  indi- 
vidual's disposition,  undermining  his  health,  and  sealing 
his  doom,  unless  the  cause  of  the  mischief  is  found  out 
and  destroyed. 

Other  minds  are  made  dormant  by  it,  and  the  victim 
is  in  a  state  of  semi-individuality,  with  a  mental  hazi- 
ness which  admits  of  no  intellectual  culture  or  spiritual 
growth.     The  state  induced  by  this  secret  evil  influence 


212  MISCELLANY 

is  a  species  of  intoxication,  in  which  the  victim  is  led  to 
believe  and  do  what  he  would  never,  otherwise,  think 
or  do  voluntarily. 

This  intricate  method  of  animal  magnetism  is  the 
essence,  or  spirit,  of  evil,  which  makes  mankind  drunken. 
In  this  era  it  is  taking  the  place  of  older  and  more  open 
sins,  and  other  forms  of  intoxication.  A  harder  fight 
will  be  necessary  to  expose  the  cause  and  effects  of 
this  evil  influence,  than  has  been  required  to  put  down 
the  evil  effects  of  alcohol.  The  alcoholic  habit  is  the 
use-  of  higher  forms  of  matter,  wherewith  to  do  evil; 
whereas  animal  magnetism  is  the  highest  form  of  mental 
evil,  wherewith  to  complete  the  sum  total  of  sin. 

The  question  is  often  asked.  Why  is  there  so  much 
dissension  among  mental  practitioners?  We  answer. 
Because  they  do  not  practise  in  strict  accordance  with 
the  teaching  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing.  If  they 
did,  there  would  be  unity  of  action.  Being  like  the 
disciples  of  old,  "with  one  accord  in  one  place,"  they 
would  receive  a  spiritual  influx  impossible  under  other 
conditions,  and  so  would  recognize  and  resist  the 
animal  magnetism  by  which  they  are  being  deceived 
and  misled. 

The  mental  malpractitioner,  interfering  with  the 
rights  of  Mind,  destroys  the  true  sense  of  Science,  and 
loses  his  own  power  to  heal.  He  tries  to  compensate 
himself  for  his  own  loss  by  hindering  in  every  way  con- 
ceivable the  success  of  others.  You  will  find  this  prac- 
titioner saying  that  animal  magnetism  never  troubles 
him,  but  that  Mrs.  Eddy  teaches  animal  magnetism; 
and  he  says  this  to  cover  his  crime  of  mental  malprac- 
tice, in  furtherance  of  unscrupulous  designs. 


ONLY  ONE  QUOTATION  213 

The  natural  fruits  of  Christian  Science  Mind-healing 
are  harmony,  brotherly  love,  spiritual  growth  and 
activity.  The  malicious  aim  of  perverted  mind-power, 
or  animal  magnetism,  is  to  paralyze  good  and  give 
activity  to  evil.  It  starts  factions  and  engenders  envy 
and  hatred,  but  as  activity  is  by  no  means  a  right  of 
evil  and  its  emissaries,  they  ought  not  to  be  encouraged 
in  it.  Because  this  age  is  cursed  with  one  rancorous 
and  lurking  foe  to  human  weal,  those  who  are  the 
truest  friends  of  mankind,  and  conscientious  in  their 
desire  to  do  right  and  to  live  pure  and  Christian  lives, 
should  be  more  zealous  to  do  good,  more  watchful  and 
vigilant.  Then  they  will  be  proportionately  successful 
and  bring  out  glorious  results. 

Unless  one's  eyes  are  opened  to  the  modes  of  mental 
malpractice,  working  so  subtly  that  we  mistake  its  sug- 
gestions for  the  impulses  of  our  own  thought,  the  victim 
will  allow  himself  to  drift  in  the  wrong  direction  with- 
out knowing  it.  Be  ever  on  guard  against  this  enemy. 
Watch  your  thoughts,  and  see  whether  they  lead  you 
to  God  and  into  harmony  with  His  true  followers. 
Guard  and  strengthen  your  own  citadel  more  strongly. 
Thus  you  will  grow  wiser  and  better  through  every 
attack  of  your  foe,  and  the  Golden  Rule  will  not  rust 
for  lack  of  use  or  be  misinterpreted  by  the  adverse 
influence  of  animal  magnetism. 

Only  One  Quotation 

The  following  three  quotations  from  "Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures"  are  submitted 
to  the  dear  Churches  of  Christ,  Scientist.    From  these 


214  MISCELLANY 

they  may  select  one  only  to  place  on  the  walls  of  their 
church.  Otherwise,  as  our  churches  multiply,  promiscu- 
ous selections  would  write  your  textbook  on  the  walls  of 
your  churches. 

Divine  Love  always  has  met  and  always  will  meet  every 
human  need. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Christianity  is  again  demonstrating  the  Life  that  is 
Truth,  and  the  Truth  that  is  Life. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Jesus'  three  days'  work  in  the  sepulchre  set  the  seal 
of  eternity  on  time.  He  proved  Life  to  be  deathless  and 
Love  to  be  the  master  of  hate. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

The  Laborer  and  bis  Hire 

In  reply  to  letters  questioning  the  consistency  of 
Christian  Scientists  taking  pay  for  their  labors,  and  with 
the  hope  of  relieving  the  questioners'  perplexity,  I  will  say : 
Four  years  after  my  discovery  of  Christian  Science,  while 
taking  no  remuneration  for  my  labors,  and  for  healing  all 
manner  of  diseases,  I  was  confronted  with  the  fact  that  I 
had  no  monetary  means  left  wherewith  to  hire  a  hall  in 
which  to  speak,  or  to  establish  a  Christian  Science  home 
for  indigent  students,  which  I  yearned  to  do,  or  even  to 
meet  my  own  current  expenses.  I  therefore  halted  from 
necessity. 

I  had  cast  my  all  into  the  treasury  of  Truth,  but  where 
were  the  means  with  which  to  carry  on  a  Cause?  To 
desert   the   Cause  never  occurred  to  me,  but  nobody 


THE   LABORER  AND   HIS  HIRE  215 

then  wanted  Christian  Science,  or  gave  it  a  halfpenny. 
Though  sorely  oppressed,  I  was  above  begging  and 
knew  well  the  priceless  worth  of  what  had  been  bestowed 
without  money  or  price.  Just  then  God  stretched  forth 
His  hand.  He  it  was  that  bade  me  do  what  I  did, 
and  it  prospered  at  every  step.  I  wrote  "Science  and 
Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,"  taught  students  for 
a  tuition  of  three  hundred  dollars  each,  though  I  seldom 
taught  without  having  charity  scholars,  sometimes  a 
dozen  or  upward  in  one  class.  Afterwards,  with  touch- 
ing tenderness,  those  very  students  sent  me  the  full 
tuition  money.  However,  I  returned  this  money  with 
love;  but  it  was  again  mailed  to  me  in  letters  begging 
me  to  accept  it,  saying,  "  Your  teachings  are  worth  much 
more  to  me  than  money  can  be." 

It  was  thus  that  I  earned  the  means  w4th  which  to  start 
a  Christian  Science  home  for  the  poor  worthy  student,  to 
establish  a  Metaphysical  College,  to  plant  our  first  maga- 
zine, to  purchase  the  site  for  a  church  edifice,  to  give  my 
church  The  Christian  Science  Journal,  and  to  keep  "the 
wolves  in  sheep's  clothing,"  preying  upon  my  pearls,  from 
clogging  the  wheels  of  Christian  Science. 

When  the  great  Master  first  sent  forth  his  students,  he 
bade  them  take  no  scrip  for  their  journey,  saying,  "  The 
laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire."  Next,  on  the  contrary, 
he  bade  them  take  scrip.  Can  we  find  a  better  example 
for  our  lives  than  that  of  our  Master?  Why  did  he  send 
forth  his  students  first  without,  and  then  with,  provision 
for  their  expenses?  Doubtless  to  test  the  effect  of  both 
methods  on  mankind.  That  he  preferred  the  latter  is 
evident,  since  we  have  no  hint  of  his  changing  this  direc- 
tion; and  that  his  divine  wisdom  should  temper  human 


216  MISCELLANY 

• 

affairs,  is  plainly  set  forth  in  the  Scriptures.  Till  Christian 
Scientists  give  all  their  time  to  spiritual  things,  live  without 
eating,  and  obtain  their  money  from  a  fish's  mouth,  they 
must  earn  it  in  order  to  help  mankind  with  it.  All  sys- 
tems of  religion  stand  on  this  basis. 

The  law  and  the  gospel,  —  Christian,  civil,  and  educa- 
tional means,  —  manufacture,  agriculture,  tariff,  and 
revenue  subsist  on  demand  and  supply,  regulated  by  a 
government  currency,  by  which  each  is  provided  for  and 
maintained.  What,  then,  can  a  man  do  with  truth 
and  without  a  cent  to  sustain  it?  Either  his  life  must 
be  a  miracle  that  frightens  people,  or  his  truth  not 
worth  a  cent. 

The  Children  Contributors 

My  Beloved  Children:  —  Tenderly  thanking  you  for 
your  sweet  industry  and  love  on  behalf  of  the  room 
of  the  Pastor  Emeritus  in  The  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  Boston,  I  say:  The  purpose  of  God  to  you- 
ward  indicates  another  field  of  work  which  I  present  to 
your  thought,  work  by  which  you  can  do  much  good  and 
which  is  adapted  to  your  present  unfolding  capacity.  I 
request  that  from  this  date  you  disband  as  a  society, 
drop  the  insignia  of  "Busy  Bees,"  work  in  your  own  sev- 
eral localities,  and  no  longer  contribute  to  The  Mother 
Church  flower  fund. 

As  you  grow  older,  advance  in  the  knowledge  of  self- 
support,  and  see  the  need  of  self-culture,  it  is  to  be  expected 
you  will  feel  more  than  at  present  that  charity  begins  at 
home,  and  that  you  will  want  money  for  your  own  uses. 
Contemplating  these  important  wants,  I  see  that  you 
should  begin  now  to  earn  for  a  purpose  even  higher,  the 


A  CORRECTION  217 

money  that  you  expend  for  flowers.  You  will  want  it  for 
academics,  for  your  own  school  education,  or,  if  need  be, 
to  help  your  parents,  brothers,  or  sisters. 

Further  to  encourage  your  early,  generous  incentive 
for  action,  and  to  reward  your  hitherto  unselfish  toil,  I 
have  deeded  in  trust  to  The  ISIother  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  in  Boston,  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars 
to  be  invested  in  safe  municipal  bonds  for  my  dear  chil- 
dren contributors  to  the  room  of  the  Pastor  Emeritus. 
This  sum  is  to  remain  on  interest  till  it  is  disbursed  in 
equal  shares  to  each  contributor.  This  disbursal  will 
take  place  when  the  contributors  shall  have  arrived  at 
legal  age,  and  each  contributor  will  receive  his  divi- 
dend with  interest  thereon  up  to  date,  provided  he  has 
complied  with  my  request  as  above  named. 

A  Correction 

In  the  last  Sentinel  [Oct.  12,  1899]  was  the  following 
question:  "If  all  matter  is  unreal,  why  do  we  deny  the 
existence  of  disease  in  the  material  body  and  not  the  body 
itself?" 

We  deny  first  the  existence  of  disease,  because  we  can 
meet  this  negation  more  readily  than  we  can  negative  all 
that  the  material  senses  aflSrm.  It  is  written  in  "Science 
and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures":  "An  improved 
belief  is  one  step  out  of  error,  and  aids  in  taking  the 
next  step  and  in  understanding  the  situation  in  Christian 
Science"  (p.  296). 

Thus  it  is  that  our  great  Exemplar,  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
first  takes  up  the  subject.  He  does  not  require  the  last 
step  to  be  taken  first.  He  came  to  the  world  not  to 
destroy  the  law  of  being,  but  to  fulfil  it  in  righteousness. 


218  MISCELLANY 

He  restored  the  diseased  body  to  its  normal  action, 
functions,  and  organization,  and  in  explanation  of  his 
deeds  he  said,  "Suffer  it  to  be  so  now:  for  thus  it  be- 
cometh  us  to  fulfil  all  righteousness."  Job  said,  "In 
my  flesh  shall  I  see  God."  Neither  the  Old  nor  the  New 
Testament  furnishes  reasons  or  examples  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  human  body,  but  for  its  restoration  to  life 
and  health  as  the  scientific  proof  of  "God  with  us." 
The  power  and  prerogative  of  Truth  are  to  destroy  all 
disease  and  to  raise  the  dead  —  even  the  self-same 
Lazarus.  The  spiritual  body,  the  incorporeal  idea,  came 
with  the  ascension. 

Jesus  demonstrated  the  divine  Principle  of  Christian 
Science  when  he  presented  his  material  body  absolved 
from  death  and  the  grave.  The  introduction  of  pure 
abstractions  into  Christian  Science,  without  their  correl- 
atives, leaves  the  divine  Principle  of  Christian  Science 
unexplained,  tends  to  confuse  the  mind  of  the  reader,  and 
ultimates  in  what  Jesus  denounced,  namely,  straining 
at  gnats  and  swallowing  camels. 

Question  Answered 

A  fad  of  belief  is  the  fool  of  mesmerism.  The  belief 
that  an  individual  can  either  teach  or  heal  by  proxy  is  a 
false  faith  that  will  end  bitterly.  My  published  works  are 
teachers  and  healers.  My  private  life  is  given  to  a  serv- 
itude the  fruit  of  which  all  mankind  may  share.  Such 
labor  is  impartial,  meted  out  to  one  no  more  than  to 
another.  Therefore  an  individual  should  not  enter  the 
Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  receiving  instruction  from  me,  other  than  that 


CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  HEALING         219 

which  my  books  afford,  unless  I  am  personally  present. 
Nor  should  patients  anticipate  being  helped  by  me  through 
some  favored  student.  Such  practice  would  be  erro"- 
neous,  and  such  an  anticipation  on  the  part  of  the  sick  a 
hindrance  rather  than  help. 

My  good  students  have  all  the  honor  of  their  success 
in  teaching  or  in  heahng.  I  by  no  means  would  pluck 
their  plumes.  Human  power  is  most  properly  used  in 
preventing  the  occasion  for  its  use;  otherwise  its  use 
is  abuse. 

Christian  Science  Healing 

To  say  that  it  is  sin  to  ride  to  church  on  an  electric 
car,  would  not  be  more  preposterous  than  to  believe 
that  man's  Maker  is  not  equal  to  the  destruction  of  disease 
germs.  Christ,  Truth,  the  ever-present  spiritual  idea, 
who  raises  the  dead,  is  equal  to  the  giving  of  life  and  health 
to  man  and  to  the  healing,  as  aforetime,  of  all  manner  of 
diseases.  I  would  not  charge  Christians  with  doubting 
the  Bible  record  of  our  great  Master's  life  of  healing,  since 
Christianity  must  be  predicated  of  what  Christ  Jesus 
taught  and  did ;  but  I  do  say  that  Christian  Science  cannot 
annul  nor  make  void  the  laws  of  the  land,  since  Christ, 
the  great  demonstrator  of  Christian  Science,  said,  "  Think 
not  that  I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law,  or  the  prophets: 
I  am  not  come  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil." 

I  have  expressed  my  opinion  publicly  as  to  the  pre- 
cautions against  the  spread  of  so-called  infectious  and 
contagious  diseases  in  the  following  words :  — 

"  Rather  than  quarrel  over  vaccination,  I  recommend,  if 
the  law  demand,  that  an  individual  submit  to  this  process, 
that  he  obey  the  law,  and  then  appeal  to  the  gospel  to 


220  MISCELLANY 

save  him  from  bad  physical  results.  Whatever  changes 
come  to  this  century  or  to  any  epoch,  we  may  safely 
submit  to  the  providence  of  God,  to  common  justice,  to 
the  maintenance  of  individual  rights,  and  to  govern- 
mental usages.  This  statement  should  be  so  interpreted 
as  to  apply,  on  the  basis  of  Christian  Science,  to  the 
reporting  of  a  contagious  case  to  the  proper  authorities 
when  the  law  so  requires.  When  Jesus  was  questioned 
concerning  obedience  to  human  law,  he  rephed :  '  Render 
to  Csesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's,'  even  while  you 
render  'to  God  the  things  that  are  God's.'" 

I  believe  in  obeying  the  laws  of  the  land.  I  practise  and 
teach  this  obedience,  since  justice  is  the  moral  signification 
of  law,  Lijustice  denotes  the  absence  of  law.  Each  day 
I  pray  for  the  pacification  of  all  national  difficulties,  for 
the  brotherhood  of  man,  for  the  end  of  idolatry  and 
infidelity,  and  for  the  growth  and  establishment  of 
Christian  religion  —  Christ's  Christianity.  I  also  have 
faith  that  my  prayer  availeth,  and  that  He  who  is 
overturning  will  overturn  until  He  whose  right  it  is  shall 
reign.  Each  day  I  pray:  "God  bless  my  enemies;  make 
them  Thy  friends;  give  them  to  know  the  joy  and  the 
peace  of  love." 

Past,  present,  or  future  philosophy  or  religion,  which 
departs  from  the  instructions  and  example  of  the  great 
Galilean  Prophet,  cannot  be  Christlike.  Jesus  obeyed 
human  laws  and  fell  a  victim  to  those  laws.  But  nineteen 
centuries  have  greatly  improved  human  nature  and 
human  statutes.  That  the  innocent  should  suffer  for  the 
guilty,  seems  less  divine,  and  that  humanity  should  share 
alike  liberty  of  conscience,  seems  more  divine  to-day  than 
it  did  yesterday. 


CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  HEALING  221 

The  earthly  price  of  spirituality  in  religion  and  medicine 
in  a  material  age  is  persecution,  and  the  moral  distance 
between  Christianity  and  materialism  precludes  Jesus' 
doctrine,  now  as  then,  from  finding  favor  with  certain 
purely  human  views.  The  prophets  of  old  looked  for 
something  higher  than  the  systems  and  practices  of  their 
times.  They  foresaw  the  new  dispensation  of  Truth 
and  the  demonstration  of  God  in  His  more  infinite 
meanings, — the  demonstration  which  was  to  destroy  sin, 
disease,  and  death,  establish  the  definition  of  omnipotence, 
and  illustrate  the  Science  of  Mind.  Earth  has  not  known 
another  so  great  and  good  as  Christ  Jesus.  Then  can 
we  find  a  better  moral  philosophy,  a  more  complete, 
natural,  and  divine  Science  of  medicine,  or  a  better 
religion  than  his? 

God  is  Spirit.  Then  modes  of  healing,  other  than  the 
spiritual  and  divine,  break  the  First  Commandment  of 
the  Decalogue,  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before 
me."  There  are  no  other  heaven-appointed  means  than 
the  spiritual  with  which  to  heal  sin  and  disease.  Our 
Master  conformed  to  this  law,  and  instructed  his  follow- 
ers, saj-ing,  "He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I 
do  shall  he  do  also."     This  is  enough. 

All  issues  of  morality,  of  Christianity,  of  pleasure,  or  of 
pain  must  come  through  a  correct  or  incorrect  state 
of  thought,  since  matter  is  not  conscious;  then,  like  a 
watchman  forsaking  his  post,  shall  we  have  no  faith  in 
God,  in  the  divine  Mind,  thus  throwing  the  door  wide 
open  to  the  intruding  disease,  forgetting  that  the  divine 
Mind,  Truth  and  Life,  can  guard  the  entrance? 

We  earnestly  ask :  Shall  we  not  believe  the  Scripture, 
"The  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick"?    In  the  seven- 


222  MISCELLANY 

teenth  chapter  of  the  Gospel  according  to  St.  Matthew, 
we  read  that  even  the  disciples  of  Jesus  once  failed  mentally 
to  cure  by  their  faith  and  understanding  a  violent  case  of 
lunacy.  And  because  of  this  Jesus  rebuked  them,  saying: 
"  0  faithless  and  perverse  generation,  how  long  shall  I  be 
with  you?  how  long  shall  I  suffer  you?  bring  him  hither  to 
me."  When  his  disciples  asked  him  why  they  could  not 
heal  that  case,  Jesus,  the  master  Metaphysician,  answered, 
"Because  of  your  unbelief"  (lack  of  faith);  and  then 
continued:  "If  ye  have  faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard 
seed,  ye  shall  say  unto  this  mountain.  Remove  hence 
to  yonder  place;  and  it  shall  remove."  Also  he  added: 
"This  kind  goeth  not  out  but  by  prayer  and  fasting" 
(refraining  from  admitting  the  claims  of  the  senses). 
Even  in  those  dark  days  Jesus  was  not  arrested  and 
executed  (for  "insanity")  because  of  his  faith  and 
his  great  demands  on  the  faith  of  his  followers,  but 
he  was  arrested  because,  as  was  said,  "he  stirreth 
up  the  people."  Be  patient,  O  Christian  Scientist! 
It  is  well  that  thou  canst  unloose  the  sandals  of  thy 
Master's  feet. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  does  not  provide 
that  materia  medica  shall  make  laws  to  regulate  man's 
religion;  rather  does  it  imply  that  religion  shall  permeate 
our  laws.  Mankind  will  be  God-governed  in  proportion 
as  God's  government  becomes  apparent,  the  Golden  Rule 
utilized,  and  the  rights  of  man  and  the  liberty  of  conscience 
held  sacred.  Meanwhile,  they  who  name  the  name  of 
Christian  Science  will  assist  in  the  holding  of  crime  in 
check,  will  aid  the  ejection  of  error,  will  maintain  law 
and  order,  and  will  cheerfully  await  the  end  —  justice  and 
judgment. 


A  WORD  TO  THE  WISE  223 

Rules  of  Conduct 

I  hereby  notify  the  pubUc  that  no  comers  are  received 
at  Pleasant  View  without  previous  appointment  by  letter. 
Also  that  I  neither  listen  to  complaints,  read  letters,  nor 
dictate  replies  to  letters  which  pertain  to  church  diffi- 
culties outside  of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
or  to  any  class  of  individual  discords.  Letters  from  the 
sick  are  not  read  by  me  or  by  my  secretaries.  They 
should  be  serlt  to  the  Christian  Science  practitioners 
whose  cards  are  in  The  Christian  Science  Journal. 

Letters  and  despatches  from  individuals  with  whom  I 
have  no  acquaintance  and  of  whom  I  have  no  knowl- 
edge, containing  questions  about  secular  affairs,  I  do 
not  answer.  First,  because  I  have  not  sufficient  time  to 
waste  on  them;  second,  because  I  do  not  consider  myself 
capable  of  instructing  persons  in  regard  to  that  of  which 
I  know  nothing.  All  such  questions  are  superinduced  by 
wrong  motives  or  by  "evil  suggestions,"  either  of  which 
I  do  not  entertain. 

All  inquiries,  coming  directly  or  indirectly  from  a 
member  of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  which 
relate  in  any  manner  to  the  keeping  or  the  breaking 
of  one  of  the  Church  By-laws,  should  be  addressed  to 
the  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors  and  not  to  the 
Pastor  Emeritus. 

A  Word  to  the  Wise 

The  hour  is  imminent.  Upon  it  lie  burdens  that 
time  will  remove.  Just  now  divine  Love  and  wisdom 
saith,  "Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God."    Do  all  Chris- 


224  MISCELLANY 

tian  Scientists  see  or  understand  the  importance  of  that 
demand  at  the  moment,  when  human  wisdom  is  inade- 
quate to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  hour  and  when  they 
should  wait  on  the  logic  of  events? 

I  respectfully  call  your  attention  to  this  demand,  know- 
ing a  little,  as  I  ought,  the  human  need,  the  divine  com- 
mand, the  blessing  which  follows  obedience  and  the  bane 
which  follows  disobedience.  Hurried  conclusions  as  to 
the  public  thought  are  not  apt  to  be  correctly  drawn.  The 
public  sentiment  is  helpful  or  dangerous  only  in  proportion 
to  its  right  or  its  wrong  concept,  and  the  forward  footsteps 
it  impels  or  the  prejudice  it  instils.  This  prejudice  the 
future  must  disclose  and  dispel.  Avoid  for  the  immediate 
present  public  debating  clubs.  Also  be  sure  that  you  are 
not  caught  in  some  author's  net,  or  made  blind  to  his 
loss  of  the  Golden  Rule,  of  which  Christian  Science  is  the 
predicate  and  postulate,  when  he  borrows  the  thoughts, 
words,  and  classification  of  one  author  without  quotation- 
marks,  at  the  same  time  giving  full  credit  to  another  more 
fashionable  but  less  correct. 

My  books  state  Christian  Science  correctly.  They  may 
not  be  as  taking  to  those  ignorant  of  this  Science  as 
books  less  correct  and  therefore  less  profound.  But  it  is 
not  safe  to  accept  the  latter  as  standards.  We  would  not  . 
deny  their  authors  a  hearing,  since  the  Scripture  declares, 
"  He  that  is  not  against  us  is  on  our  part."  And  we  should 
also  speak  in  loving  terms  of  their  efforts,  but  we  cannot 
afford  to  recommend  any  literature  as  wholly  Christian 
Science  which  is  not  absolutely  genuine. 

Beloved  students,  just  now  let  us  adopt  the  classic 
saying,  "They  also  serve  who  only  stand  and  wait." 
Our  Cause  is  growing  apace  under  the  present  persecution 


CAPITALIZATION  225 

thereof.  This  is  a  crucial  hour,  in  which  the  coward  and 
the  hypocrite  come  to  the  surface  to  pass  oflF,  while  the 
loyal  at  heart  and  the  worker  in  the  spirit  of  Truth  are 
rising  to  the  zenith  of  success,  —  the  "  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful,"  spoken  by  our  Master. 

Capitalization 

A  correct  use  of  capital  letters  in  composition  caps  the 
climax  of  the  old  "new  tongue."  Christian  Science  is  not 
understood  by  the  writer  or  the  reader  who  does  not  com- 
prehend where  capital  letters  should  be  used  in  writing 
about  Christian  Science. 

In  divine  Science  all  belongs  to  God,  for  God  is  All; 
hence  the  propriety  of  giving  unto  His  holy  name 
due  deference,  —  the  capitalization  which  distinguishes 
it  from  all  other  names,  thus  obeying  the  leading  of  our 
Lord's  Prayer. 

The  coming  of  Christ's  kingdom  on  earth  begins  in  the 
minds  of  men  by  honoring  God  and  sacredly  holding  His 
name  apart  from  the  names  of  that  which  He  creates. 
Mankind  almost  universally  gives  to  the  divine  Spirit 
the  name  God.  Christian  Science  names  God  as  divine 
Principle,  Love,  the  infinite  Person.  In  this,  as  in  all 
that  is  right.  Christian  Scientists  are  expected  to  stick 
to  their  text,  and  by  no  illogical  conclusion,  either  in 
speaking  or  in  writing,  to  forget  their  prayer,  "  Hallowed 
be  Thy  name." 

In  their  textbook  it  is  clearly  stated  that  God  is  divine 
Principle  and  that  His  synonyms  are  Love,  Truth,  Life, 
Spirit,  Mind,  Soul,  which  combine  as  one.  The  divine 
Principle  includes  them  all.  The  word  Principle,  when 
referring  to  God,  should  not  be  written  or  used  as  a 


226  MISCELLANY 

common  noun  or  in  the  plural  number.  To  avoid  using 
this  word  incorrectly,  use  it  only  where  you  can  substi- 
tute the  word  God  and  make  sense.  This  rule  strictly 
observed  will  preserve  an  intelligent  usage  of  the  word 
and  convey  its  meaning  in  Christian  Science. 

What  are  termed  in  common  speech  the  principle  of  har- 
monious vibration,  the  principle  of  conservation  of  num- 
ber in  geometry,  the  principle  of  the  inclined  plane  in 
mechanics,  etc.,  are  but  an  effect  of  one  universal  cause,  — 
an  emanation  of  the  one  divine  inteUigent  Principle  that 
holds  the  earth  in  its  orbit  by  evolved  spiritual  power, 
that  commands  the  waves  and  the  winds,  that  marks  the 
sparrow's  fall,  and  that  governs  all  from  the  infinitesimal 
to  the  infinite,  —  namely,  God.  Withdraw  God,  divine 
Principle,  from  man  and  the  universe,  and  man  and  the 
universe  would  no  longer  exist.  But  annihilate  matter, 
and  man  and  the  universe  would  remain  the  forever  fact, 
the  spiritual  "substance  of  things  hoped  for;"  and  the 
evidence  of  the  immortality  of  man  and  the  cosmos  is 
sustained  by  the  intelligent  divine  Principle,  Love. 

Beloved  students,  in  this  you  learn  to  hallow  His  name, 
even  as  you  value  His  all-power,  all-presence,  all-Science, 
and  depend  on  Him  for  your  existence. 

Wherefore? 

Our  faithful  laborers  in  the  field  of  Science  have 
been  told  by  the  alert  editor-in-chief  of  the  Christian 
Science  Sentinel  and  Journal  that  "Mrs.  Eddy  advises, 
until  the  public  thought  becomes  better  acquainted  with 
Christian  Science,  that  Christian  Scientists  decline  to 
doctor  infectious  or  contagious  diseases." 


WHEREFORE  ?  227 

The  great  Master  said,  "For  which  of  those  works  do 
ye  stone  me?"  He  said  this  to  satisfy  himself  regarding 
that  which  he  spake  as  God's  representative  —  as  one  who 
never  weakened  in  his  own  personal  sense  of  righteousness 
because  of  another's  wickedness  or  because  of  the  minify- 
ing of  his  own  goodness  by  another.  Charity  is  quite  as 
rare  as  wisdom,  but  when  charity  does  appear,  it  is  known 
by  its  patience  and  endurance. 

When,  under  the  protection  of  State  or  United  States 
laws,  good  citizens  are  arrested  for  manslaughter  because 
one  out  of  three  of  their  patients,  having  the  same  disease 
and  in  the  same  family,  dies  while  the  others  recover,  we 
naturally  turn  to  divine  justice  for  support  and  wait  on 
God.  Christian  Scientists  should  be  influenced  by  their 
own  judgment  in  taking  a  case  of  malignant  disease. 
They  should  consider  well  their  ability  to  cope  with  the 
claim,  and  they  should  not  overlook  the  fact  that  there 
are  those  lying  in  wait  to  catch  them  in  their  sayings; 
neither  should  they  forget  that  in  their  practice,  whether 
successful  or  not,  they  are  not  specially  protected  by  law. 
The  above  quotation  by  the  editor-in-chief  stands  for  this: 
Inherent  justice,  constitutional  individual  rights,  self- 
preservation,  and  the  gospel  injunction,  "Neither  cast 
ye  your  pearls  before  swine,  lest  they  trample  them  under 
their  feet,  and  turn  again  and  rend  you." 

And  it  stands  side  by  side  with  Christ's  command, 
"Whosoever  shall  smite  thee  on  thy  right  cheek,  turn  to 
him  the  other  also."  I  abide  by  this  rule  and  triumph  by 
it.  The  sinner  may  sneer  at  this  beatitude,  for  "  the  fool 
hath  said  in  his  heart.  There  is  no  God."  Statistics  show 
that  Christian  Science  cures  a  larger  per  cent  of  malignant 
diseases  than  does  materia  medica. 


228  MISCELLANY 

I  call  disease  by  its  name  and  have  cured  it  thus;  so 
there  is  nothing  new  on  this  score.  My  book  Science  and 
Health  names  disease,  and  thousands  are  healed  by 
learning  that  so-called  disease  is  a  sensation  of  mind,  not 
of  matter.  Evil  minds  signally  blunder  in  divine  meta- 
physics; hence  I  am  always  saying  the  unexpected  to 
them.  The  evil  mind  calls  it  "skulking,"  when  to  me  it 
is  wisdom  to  "overcome  evil  with  good."  I  fail  to  know 
how  one  can  be  a  Christian  and  yet  depart  from  Christ's 
teachings. 

Significant  Questions 

Who  shall  be  greatest?  Referring  to  John  the  Baptist, 
of  whom  he  said  none  greater  had  been  born  of  women, 
our  Master  declared :  "  He  that  is  least  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  greater  than  he."  That  is,  he  that  hath  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  the  reign  of  holiness,  in  the  least  in  his 
heart,  shall  be  greatest. 

Who  shall  inherit  the  earth?  The  meek,  who  sit  at  the 
feet  of  Truth,  bathing  the  human  understanding  with 
tears  of  repentance  and  washing  it  clean  from  the  taints  of 
self-righteousness,  hypocrisy,  envy,  —  they  shall  inherit 
the  earth,  for  "wisdom  is  justified  of  her  children." 

"Who  shall  dwell  in  Thy  holy  hill?  He  that  walketh 
uprightly,  and  worketh  righteousness,  and  speaketh  the 
truth  in  his  heart." 

Who  shall  be  called  to  Pleasant  View?  He  who  strives, 
and  attains ;  who  has  the  divine  presumption  to  say :  "  For 
I  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that 
he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed  unto  him 
against  that  day  "  (St.  Paul).  It  goes  without  saying  that 
such  a  one  was  never  called  to  Pleasant  View  for  penance 


MENTAL  DIGESTION  229 

or  for  reformation ;  and  I  call  none  but  genuine  Christian 
Scientists,  unless  I  mistake  their  calling.  No  mesmerist 
nor  disloyal  Christian  Scientist  is  fit  to  come  hither.  I 
have  no  use  for  such,  and  there  cannot  be  found  at  Pleasant 
View  one  of  this  sort.  "  For  all  that  do  these  things  are 
an  abomination  unto  the  Lord:  and  because  of  these 
abominations  the  Lord  thy  God  doth  drive  them  out  from 
before  thee."     (Deuteronomy  18:  12.) 

It  is  true  that  loyal  Christian  Scientists,  called  to  the 
home  of  the  Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science, 
can  acquire  in  one  year  the  Science  that  otherwise  might 
cost  them  a  half  century.  But  this  should  not  be  the 
incentive  for  going  thither.  Better  far  that  Christian 
Scientists  go  to  help  their  helper,  and  thus  lose  all  selfish- 
ness, as  she  has  lost  it,  and  thereby  help  themselves  and 
the  whole  world,  as  she  has  done,  according  to  this  saying 
of  Christ  Jesus :  "  And  whosoever  doth  not  bear  his  cross, 
and  come  after  me,  cannot  be  my  disciple." 

Mental  Digestion 

Will  those  beloved  students,  whose*  growth  is  taking  in 
the  Ten  Commandments  and  scaling  the  steep  ascent  of 
Christ's  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  accept  profound  thanks  for 
their  swift  messages  of  rejoicing  over  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury Church  Manual?  Heaps  upon  heaps  of  praise  con- 
front me,  and  for  what?  That  which  I  said  in  my  heart 
would  never  be  needed,  —  namely,  laws  of  limitation  for  a 
Christian  Scientist.  Thy  ways  are  not  as  ours.  Thou 
knowest  best  what  we  need  most,  —  hence  my  disap- 
pointed hope  and  grateful  joy.  The  redeemed  should  be 
happier  than  the  elect.  Truth  is  strong  with  destiny; 
it  takes  life  profoundly;   it  measures  the  infinite  against 


230  MISCELLANY 

the  finite.  Notwithstanding  the  sacrilegious  moth  of  time, 
eternity  awaits  our  Church  Manual,  which  will  maintain 
its  rank  as  in  the  past,  amid  ministries  aggressive  and 
active,  and  will  stand  when  those  have  passed  to  rest. 

Scientific  pathology  illustrates  the  digestion  of  spiritual 
nutriment  as  both  sweet  and  bitter,  —  sweet  in  expectancy 
and  bitter  in  experience  or  during  the  senses'  assimilation 
thereof,  and  digested  only  when  Soul  silences  the  dyspepsia 
of  sense.  This  church  is  impartial.  Its  rules  apply  not 
to  one  member  only,  but  to  one  and  all  equally.  Of  this 
I  am  sure,  that  each  Rule  and  By-law  in  this  Manual  will 
increase  the  spirituality  of  him  who  obeys  it,  invigorate  his 
capacity  to  heal  the  sick,  to  comfort  such  as  mourn,  and 
to  awaken  the  sinner. 

Teaching  in  the  Sunday  School 

To  THE  Superintendent  and  Teachers  of  The 
Mother  Church  Sunday  School 

Beloved  Students:  —  I  read  with  pleasure  your  approval 
of  the  amendments  to  Article  XIX.,  Sections  5  and  6,^ 
in  our  Church  Manual.  Be  assured  that  fitness  and 
fidelity  such  as  thine  in  the  officials  of  my  church  give 
my  solitude  sweet  surcease.  It  is  a  joy  to  know  that 
they  who  are  faithful  over  foundational  trusts,  such  as 
the  Christian  education  of  the  dear  children,  will  reap 
the  reward  of  rightness,  rise  in  the  scale  of  being,  and 
realize  at  last  their  Master's  promise,  "  And  they  shall  be 
all  taught  of  God." 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
November  14,  1904. 

1  Article  XX.,  Sections  2  and  3  in  89th  edition. 


LESSONS  IN  THE   SUNDAY  SCHOOL     231 

Celvrity  and  Invalids 

Mrs.  Eddy  endeavors  to  bestow  her  charities  for  such 
purposes  only  as  God  indicates.  Giving  merely  in  com- 
pHance  with  sohcitations  or  petitions  from  strangers, 
incurs  the  Habihty  of  working  in  wrong  directions.  As 
a  rule,  she  has  suffered  most  from  those  whom  she  has 
labored  much  to  benefit  —  also  from  the  undeserving 
poor  to  whom  she  has  given  large  sums  of  money,  worse 
than  wasted.  She  has,  therefore,  finally  resolved  to 
spend  no  more  time  or  money  in  such  uncertain,  un- 
fortunate investments.  She  has  qualified  students  for 
healing  the  sick,  and  has  ceased  practice  herself  in  order 
to  help  God's  work  in  other  of  its  highest  and  infinite 
meanings,  as  God,  not  man,  directs.  Hence,  letters  from 
invalids  demanding  her  help  do  not  reach  her.  They  are 
committed  to  the  waste-basket  by  her  secretaries. 

"Charity  suffereth  long  and  is  kind,"  but  wisdom  must 
govern  charity,  else  love's  labor  is  lost  and  giving  is  un- 
kind. As  it  is,  Mrs.  Eddy  is  constantly  receiving  more 
important  demands  on  her  time  and  attention  than  one 
woman  is  sufficient  to  supply.  It  would  therefore  be  as 
unwise  for  her  to  undertake  new  tasks,  as  for  a  landlord 
who  has  not  an  empty  apartment  in  his  house,  to  receive 
more  tenants. 

Lessons  in  the  Sunday  School 

To  THE  Officers  of  the  Sunday  School  of  Second  Church 
OF  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  You  will  accept  my  thanks  for  your 
interesting  report  regarding  the  By-law,  "Subject  for 
Lessons"  (Article  XX.,  Section  3  of  Church  Manual). 


232  MISCELLANY 

It  rejoices  me  that  you  are  recognizing  the  proper  course, 
unfurling  your  banner  to  the  breeze  of  God,  and  sailing 
over  rough  seas  with  the  helm  in  His  hands.  Steering 
thus,  the  waiting  waves  will  weave  for  you  their  winning 
webs  of  life  in  looms  of  love  that  line  the  sacred  shores. 
The  right  way  wins  the  right  of  way,  even  the  way  of 
Truth  and  Love  whereby  all  our  debts  are  paid,  mankind 
blessed,  and  God  glorified. 

Watching  verstis  Watching  Out 

Comment  on  an  Editorial  wmcH  Appeared  in  th^  Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  September  23,  1905 

Our  Lord  and  Master  left  to  us  the  following  sayings  as 
living  lights  in  our  darkness :  "  What  I  say  unto  you  I  say 
unto  all.  Watch"  (Mark  13:37);  and,  "If  the  goodman 
of  the  house  had  known  what  hour  the  thief  would  come, 
he  would  have  watched,  and  not  have  suffered  his  house 
to  be  broken  through."     (Luke  12:  39.) 

Here  we  ask :  Are  Christ's  teachings  the  true  authority 
for  Christian  Science?  They  are.  Does  the  textbook  of 
Christian  Science,  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,"  read  on  page  252,  "A  knowledge  of  error 
and  of  its  operations  must  precede  that  understanding 
of  Truth  which  destroys  error,  until  the  entire  mortal, 
material  error  finally  disappears,  and  the  eternal  verity, 
man  created  by  and  of  Spirit,  is  understood  and  recog- 
nized as  the  true  likeness  of  his  Maker  "  ?  It  does.  If 
so-called  watching  produces  fear  or  exhaustion  and  no 
good  results,  does  that  watch  accord  with  Jesus'  saying? 
It  does  not.  Can  watching  as  Christ  demands  harm 
you?  It  cannot.  Then  should  not  "watching  out" 
mean,   watching    against    a    negative   watch,   alias,   no 


PRINCIPLE  OR  PERSON?  233 

watch,  and  gaining  the  spirit  of  true  watching,  even  the' 
spirit  of  our  Master's  command?     It  must  mean  that. 

Is  there  not  something  to  watch  in  yourself,  in  your 
daily  life,  since  "by  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them," 
which  prevents  an  effective  watch?  Otherwise,  where- 
fore the  Lord's  Prayer,  "Deliver  us  from  evil"?  And 
if  this  something,  when  challenged  by  Truth,  frightens 
you,  should  you  not  put  that  out  instead  of  putting 
out  your  watch  f  I  surely  should.  Then  are  you  not 
made  better  by  watching?  I  am.  Which  should  we 
prefer,  ease  or  dis-ease  in  sin?  Is  not  discomfort  from 
sin  better  adapted  to  deliver  mortals  from  the  effects  of 
belief  in  sin  than  ease  in  sin?  and  can  you  demonstrate 
over  the  effects  of  other  people's  sins  by  indifference 
thereto?     I  cannot. 

The  Scriptures  say,  "They  have  healed  also  the  hurt 
of  the  daughter  of  my  people  slightly,  saying.  Peace, 
peace;  when  there  is  no  peace"  (Jeremiah  6  :  14),  thus 
taking  the  name  of  God  in  vain.  Ignorance  of  self  is  the 
most  stubborn  belief  to  overcome,  for  apathy,  dishonesty, 
sin,  follow  in  its  train.  One  should  watch  to  know  what 
his  errors  are;  and  if  this  watching  destroys  his  peace  in 
error,  should  one  watch  against  such  a  result?  He  should 
not.  Our  Master  said,  "He  that  taketh  not  his  cross, 
and  followeth  after  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me  .  .  .  and  he 
that  loseth  his  life  [his  false  sense  of  lifel  for  my  sake  shall 
find  it."     (Matthew  10:  38,  39.) 

Principle  or  Person? 

Do  Christian  Scientists  love  God  as  much  as  they  love 
mankind?  Aye,  that's  the  question.  Let  us  examine  it 
for  ourselves.    Thinking  of  person  impUes  that  one  is  not 


234  MISCELLANY 

thinking  of  Principle,  and  fifty  telegrams  per  holiday  sig- 
nalize the  thinking  of  person.  Are  the  holidays  blest  by 
absorbing  one's  time  writing  or  reading  congratulations? 
I  cannot  watch  and  pray  while  reading  telegrams;  they 
only  cloud  the  clear  sky,  and  they  give  the  appearance  of 
personal  worship  which  Christian  Science  annuls.  Did 
the  dear  students  know  how  much  I  love  them,  and  how 
I  need  every  hour  wherein  to  express  this  love  in  labor 
for  them,  they  would  gladly  give  me  the  holidays  for  this 
work  and  not  task  themselves  with  mistaken  means. 
But  God  will  reward  their  kind  motives,  and  guide  them 
every  step  of  the  way  from  human  affection  to  spiritual 
understanding,  from  faith  to  achievement,  from  light  to 
Love,  from  sense  to  Soul. 

Christian  Science  and  Ciuna 

Beloved  Student :  — The  report  of  the  success  of  Christian 
Science  in  benighted  China,  when  regarded  on  one  side 
only,  is  cheering,  but  to  look  at  both  sides  of  the  great 
question  of  introducing  Christian  Science  into  a  heathen 
nation  gives  the  subject  quite  another  aspect.  I  believe 
that  all  our  great  Master's  sayings  are  practical  and 
scientific.  If  the  Dowager  Empress  could  hold  her 
nation,  there  would  be  no  danger  in  teaching  Christian 
Science  in  her  country.  But  a  war  on  religion  in 
China  would  be  more  fatal  than  the  Boxers'  rebellion. 
Silent  prayer  in  and  for  a  heathen  nation  is  just  what 
is  needed.  But  to  teach  and  to  demonstrate  Christian 
Science  before  the  minds  of  the  people  are  prepared 
for  it,  and  when  the  laws  are  against  it,  is  fraught  with 
danger. 


SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES  235 

Inconsistency 

To  teacn  the  truth  of  Hfe  without  using  the  word 
death,  the  suppositional  opposite  of  Hfe,  were  as  impos- 
sible as  to  define  truth  and  not  name  its  opposite,  error. 
Straining  at  gnats,  one  may  swallow  camels. 

The  tender  mother,  guided  by  love,  faithful  to  her  in- 
stincts, and  adhering  to  the  imperative  rules  of  Science, 
asks  herself:  Can  I  teach  my  child  the  correct  numer- 
ation of  numbers  and  never  name  a  cipher?  Knowing 
that  she  cannot  do  this  in  mathematics,  she  should  know 
that  it  cannot  be  done  in  metaphysics,  and  so  she  should 
definitely  name  the  error,  uncover  it,  and  teach  truth 
scientifically. 

Signs  of  the  Times 

Is  God  infinite?  Yes.  Did  God  make  man?  Yes. 
Did  God  make  all  that  was  made?  He  did.  Is  God 
Spirit?  He  is.  Did  infinite  Spirit  make  that  which  is 
not  spiritual?  No.  Who  or  what  made  matter?  Matter 
as  substance  or  inteUigence  never  was  made.  Is  mortal 
man  a  creator,  is  he  matter  or  spirit?  Neither  one.  Why? 
Because  Spirit  is  God  and  infinite;  hence  there  can  be 
no  other  creator  and  no  other  creation.  Man  is  but  His 
image  and  Ukeness. 

Are  you  a  Christian  Scientist?  I  am.  Do  you  adopt 
as  truth  the  above  statements?  I  do.  Then  why  this 
meaningless  commemoration  of  birthdays,  since  there  are 
none? 

Had  I  known  what  was  being  done  in  time  to  have 
prevented  it,  that  which  commemorated  in  deed  or  in 
word  what  is  not  true,  would  never  have  entered  into  the 


236  MISCELLANY 

history  of  our  church  buildings.  Let  us  have  no  more  of 
echoing  dreams.  Will  the  beloved  students  ^ccept  my 
full  heart's  love  for  them  and  their  kind  thoughts. 

NoTA  Bene 

My  Beloved  Christian  Scientists:  — Because  I  suggested 
the  name  for  one  central  Reading  Room,  and  this  name 
continues  to  be  multiplied,  you  will  permit  me  to  make 
the  amende  Iionorable  —  notwithstanding  "incompetence" 
—  and  to  say,  please  adopt  generally  for  your  name, 
Christian  Science  Reading  Room.  An  old  axiom  says: 
Too  much  of  one  thing  spoils  the  whole.  Too  many 
centres  may  become  equivalent  to  no  centre. 

Here  I  have  the  joy  of  knowing  that  Christian  Scientists 
will  exchange  the  present  name  for  the  one  which  I  sug- 
gest, with  the  sweet  alacrity  and  uniformity  with  which 
they  accepted  the  first  name. 

Merely  this  appellative  seals  the  question  of  unity,  and 
opens  wide  on  the  amplitude  of  liberty  and  love  a  far- 
reaching  motive  and  success,  of  which  we  can  say,  the 
more  the  better. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
July  8,  1907. 

Take  Notice 

I  request  the  Christian  Scientists  universally  to  read 
the  paragraph  beginning  at  line  30  of  page  442  in  the 
edition  of  Science  and  Health  which  will  be  issued  Febru- 
ary 29  [1908].  I  consider  the  information  there  given  to 
be  of  great  importance  at  this  stage  of  the  workings  of 
animal  magnetism,  and  it  will  greatly  aid  the  students  in 
their  individual  experiences. 


TAKE  NOTICE  237 

The  contemplated  reference  in  Science  and  Health  to 
the  "higher  criticism"  announced  in  the  Sentinel  a  few 
weeks  ago,  I  have  since  decided  not  to  publish. 

Take  Notice 

What  I  wrote  on  Christian  Science  some  twenty-five 
years  ago  I  do  not  consider  a  precedent  for  a  present 
student  of  this  Science.  The  best  mathematician  has 
not  attained  the  full  understanding  of  the  principle 
thereof,  in  his  earliest  studies  or  discoveries.  Hence,  it 
were  wise  to  accept  only  my  teachings  that  I  know  to 
be  correct  and  adapted  to  the  present  demand. 

Take  Notice 

To  Christian  Scientists:  —  See  Science  and  Health,  page 
442,  line  30,  and  give  daily  attention  thereto. 

Practitioners'  Charges 

Christian    Science    practitioners    should    make    their 
charges  for  treatment  equal  to  those  of  reputable  phy- 
sicians in  their  respective  localities. 
Brookline,  Mass.,  December  24,  1909. 

Take  Notice 

The  article  on  the  Church  Manual  by  Blanche  Hersey 
Hogue,  in  the  Sentinel  of  September  10  [1910]  is  practi- 
cal and  scientific,  and  I  recommend  its  careful  study  to  all 
Christian  Scientists. 


CHAPTER  XI 
QUESTIONS    ANSWERED 

Questions  and  Answers 

Will  the  Bible,  if  read  and  practised,  heal  as  effectually 
as  your  hook,  "Science  and  Health  vyiih  Key  to  the 
Scriptures"  f 

THE  exact  degree  of  comparison  between  the  effects 
produced  by  reading  the  above-named  books  can 
only  be  determined  by  personal  proof.  Rightl}'  to  read 
and  to  practise  the  Scriptures,  their  spiritual  sense  must 
be  discerned,  understood,  and  demonstrated.  God  being 
Spirit,  His  language  and  meaning  are  wholly  spiritual. 
Uninspired  knowledge  of  the  translations  of  the  Scriptures 
has  imparted  little  power  to  practise  the  Word.  Hence 
the  revelation,  discovery,  and  presentation  of  Christian 
Science — the  Christ  Science,  or  "new  tongue"  of  which 
St.  Mark  prophesied  —  became  requisite  in  the  divine 
order.  On  the  swift  pinions  of  spiritual  thought  man 
rises  above  the  letter,  law,  or  morale  of  the  inspired  Word 
to  the  spirit  of  Truth,  whereby  the  Science  is  reached 
that  demonstrates  God.  When  the  Bible  is  thus  read 
and  practised,  there  is  no  possibility  of  misinterpreta- 
tion. God  is  understandable,  knowable,  and  applicable 
to  every  human  need.  In  this  is  the  proof  that  Chris- 
tian Science   is  Science,  for  it  demonstrates   Life,    not 

238 


QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS  239 

death;  health,  not  disease;  Truth,  not  error;  Love,  not 
hate.  The  Science  of  the  Scriptures  coexists  with  God; 
and  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures" 
relegates  Christianity  to  its  primitive  proof,  wherein 
reason,  revelation,  the  divine  Principle,  rules,  and  prac- 
tice of  Christianity  acquaint  the  student  with  God.  In 
the  ratio  that  Christian  Science  is  studied  and  under- 
stood, mankind  will,  as  aforetime,  imbibe  the  spirit  and 
prove  the  practicality,  validity,  and  redemptive  power  of 
Christianity  by  healing  all  manner  of  disease,  by  over- 
coming sin  and  death. 

Must  mankind  wait  for  the  ultimate  of  the  millennium  — 
until  every  man  and  woman  comes  into  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  and  all  are  taught  of  God  and  see  their  apparent 
identity  as  one  man  and  one  woman  — for  God  to  be 
represented  by  His  idea  or  image  and  likeness  f 

God  is  one,  and  His  idea,  image,  or  likeness,  man,  is  one. 
But  God  is  infinite  and  so  includes  all  in  one.  Man  is  the 
generic  term  for  men  and  women.  Man,  as  the  idea  or 
image  and  likeness  of  the  infinite  God,  is  a  compound,  com- 
plex idea  or  likeness  of  the  infinite  one,  or  one  infinite, 
whose  image  is  the  reflection  of  all  that  is  real  and  eternal 
in  infinite  identity.  Gender  means  a  kind.  Hence  man- 
kind —  in  other  words,  a  kind  of  man  who  is  identi- 
fied by  sex  —  is  the  material,  so-called  man  born  of  the 
flesh,  and  is  not  the  spiritual  man,  created  by  God, 
Spirit,  who  made  all  that  was  made.  The  millennium 
is  a  state  and  stage  of  mental  advancement,  going 
on  since  ever  time  was.  Its  impetus,  accelerated  by 
the  advent  of  Christian  Science,  is  marked,   and  will 


240  MISCELLANY 

increase  till  all  men  shall  know  Him  (divine  Love)  from 
the  least  to  the  greatest,  and  one  God  and  the  brother- 
hood of  man  shall  be  known  and  acknowledged  through- 
out the  earth. 

The  Higher  Criticism 

An  earnest  student  writes  to  me:  "Would  it  be  asking 
too  much  of  you  to  explain  more  fully  why  you  call  Chris- 
tian Science  the  higher  criticism?" 

I  called  Christian  Science  the  higher  criticism  in  my 
dedicatory  Message  to  The  Mother  Church,  June  10, 
1906,  when  I  said,  "This  Science  is  a  law  of  divine  Mind, 
...  an  ever-present  help.  Its  presence  is  felt,  for  it 
acts  and  acts  wisely,  always  unfolding  the  highway  of 
hope,  faith,  understanding." 

I  now  repeat  another  proof,  namely,  that  Christian 
Science  is  the  higher  criticism  because  it  criticizes  evil, 
disease,  and  death  —  all  that  is  unlike  God,  good  —  on  a 
Scriptural  basis,  and  approves  or  disapproves  according 
to  the  word  of  God.  In  the  next  edition  of  Science  and 
Health  I  shall  refer  to  this. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Class  Teaching 

Mrs.  Eddy  thus  replies,  through  her  student,  Mr. 
Adam  Dickey,  to  the  question,  Does  Mrs.  Eddy  approve 
of  class  teaching:  — 

Yes!  She  most  assuredly  does,  when  the  teaching  is 
done  by  those  who  are  duly  qualified,  who  have  re- 
ceived certificates  from  the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical 
College  or  the  Board  of  Education,  and  who  have  the 


INSTRUCTION  BY  MRS.  EDDY  241» 

necessary  moral  and  spiritual  qualifications  to  perform 
this  important  work.  Class  teaching  will  not  be  abol- 
ished until  it  has  accomplished  that  for  which  it  was 
established;  viz.,  the  elucidation  of  the  Principle  and 
rule  of  Christian  Science  through  the  higher  meaning 
of  the  Scriptures.  Students  who  are  ready  for  this 
step  should  beware  the  net  that  is  craftily  laid  and  cun- 
ningly concealed  to  prevent  their  advancement  in  this 
direction. 


Instruction  by  Mrs.  Eddy 

We  are  glad  to  have  the  privilege  of  publishing  an  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Eddy,  from  a  Christian  Scien- 
tist in  the  West,  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  reply  thereto.  The 
issue  raised  is  an  important  one  and  one  upon  which 
there  should  be  absolute  and  correct  teaching.  Christian 
Scientists  are  fortunate  to  receive  instruction  from  their 
Leader  on  this  point.  The  question  and  Mrs.  Eddy's 
reply  follow. 

"Last  evening  I  was  catechized  by  a  Christian  Science 
practitioner  because  I  referred  to  myself  as  an  immortal 
idea  of  the  one  divine  Mind.  The  practitioner  said  that 
my  statement  was  wrong,  because  I  still  lived  in  my 
flesh.  I  replied  that  I  did  not  live  in  my  flesh,  that 
my  flesh  lived  or  died  according  to  the  beliefs  I  enter- 
tained about  it;  but  that,  after  coming  to  the  light  of 
Truth,  I  had  found  that  I  lived  and  moved  and  had 
my  being  in  God,  and  to  obey  Christ  was  not  to  know 
as  real  the  beliefs  of  an  earthly  mortal.  Please  give  the 
truth  in  the  Sentinel,  so  that  all  may  know  it." 


£42  MISCELLANY 


MRS.   EDDY  S  REPLY 


You  are  scientifically  correct  in  your  statement  about 
yourself.  You  can  never  demonstrate  spirituality  until  you 
declare  yourself  to  be  immortal  and  understand  that 
you  are  so.  Christian  Science  is  absolute;  it  is  neither 
behind  the  point  of  perfection  nor  advancing  towards 
it;  it  is  at  this  point  and  must  be  practised  therefrom. 
Unless  you  fully  perceive  that  you  are  the  child 
of  God,  hence  perfect,  you  have  no  Principle  to  demon- 
strate and  no  rule  for  its  demonstration.  By  this  I 
do  not  mean  that  mortals  are  the  children  of  God,  — 
far  from  it.  In  practising  Christian  Science  you  must 
state  its  Principle  correctly,  or  you  forfeit  your  ability 
to  demonstrate  it. 


CHAPTER   XII 
READERS,  TEACHERS,  LECTURERS 

The  New  York  Churches 

MY  Beloved  Students :  —  According  to  reports,  the 
belief  is  springing  up  among  you  that  the  several 
churches  in  New  York  City  should  come  together  and 
form  one  church.  This  is  a  suggestion  of  error,  which 
should  be  silenced  at  its  inception.  You  cannot  have  lost 
sight  of  the  rules  for  branch  churches  as  published  in  our 
Church  Manual.  The  Empire  City  is  large,  and  there 
should  be  more  than  one  church  in  it. 

The  Readers  of  The  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  hold 
important,  responsible  offices,  and  two  individuals  would 
meet  meagrely  the  duties  of  half  a  dozen  or  more  of  the 
present  incumbents.  I  have  not  yet  had  the  privilege  of 
knowing  two  students  who  are  adequate  to  take  charge 
of  three  or  more  churches.  The  students  in  New  York 
and  elsewhere  will  see  that  it  is  wise  to  remain  in  their 
own  fields  of  labor  and  give  all  possible  time  and  attention 
to  caring  for  their  own  flocks. 

The  November  Class,  1898 

Beloved  Christian  Scientists:  —  Your  prompt  presence  in 
Concord  at  my  unexplained  call  witnesses  your  fidelity 
to  Christian  Science  and  your  spiritual  unity  with  your 

243 


244  MISCELLANY 

Leader.  I  have  awaited  your  arrival  before  informing 
you  of  my  purpose  in  sending  for  you,  in  order  to  avoid 
the  stir  that  might  be  occasioned  among  those  who  wish 
to  share  this  opportunity  and  to  whom  I  would  gladly 
give  it  at  this  time  if  a  larger  class  were  advantageous 
to  the  students. 

You  have  been  invited  hither  to  receive  from  me  one  or 
more  lessons  on  Christian  Science,  prior  to  conferring  on 
any  or  all  of  you  who  are  ready  for  it,  the  degree  of  C.S.D., 
of  the  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College.  This  oppor- 
tunity is  designed  to  impart  a  fresh  impulse  to  our  spiritual 
attainments,  the  great  need  of  which  I  daily  discern. 
I  have  awaited  the  right  hour,  and  to  be  called  of  God 
to  contribute  my  part  towards  this  result. 

The. "secret  place,"  whereof  David  sang,  is  unquestion- 
ably man's  spiritual  state  in  God's  own  image  and  like- 
ness, even  the  inner  sanctuary  of  divine  Science,  in  which 
mortals  do  not  enter  without  a  struggle  or  sharp  experi- 
ence, and  in  which  they  put  off  the  human  for  the  divine. 
Knowing  this,  our  Master  said:  "Many  are  called,  but  few 
are  chosen."  In  the  highest  sense  of  a  disciple,  all  loyal 
students  of  my  books  are  indeed  my  students,  and  your 
wise,  faithful  teachers  have  come  so  to  regard  them. 

What  I  have  to  say  may  not  require  more  than  one 
lesson.  This,  however,  must  depend  on  results.  But 
the  lessons  will  certainly  not  exceed  three  in  number. 
No  charge  will  be  made  for  my  services. 

Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College 

The  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College  of  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  was  chartered  a.d.  1881.  As  the  people 
observed  the  success  of  this  Christian  system  of  heal- 


METAPHYSICAL  COLLEGE  245 

ing  all  manner  of  disease,  over  and  above  the  approved 
schools  of  medicine,  they  became  deeply  interested 
in  it.  Now  the  wide  demand  for  this  universal  bene- 
fice is  imperative,  and  it  should  be  met  as  heretofore, 
cautiously,  systematically,  scientifically.  This  Chris- 
tian educational  system  is  established  on  a  broad  and 
liberal  basis.  Law  and  order  characterize  its  work 
and  secure  a  thorough  preparation  of  the  student  for 
practice. 

The  growth  of  human  inquiry  and  the  increasing  pop- 
ularity of  Christian  Science,  I  regret  to  say,  have  called 
out  of  their  hiding-places  those  poisonous  reptiles  and  de- 
vouring beasts,  superstition  and  jealousy.  Towards  the 
animal  elements  manifested  in  ignorance,  persecution, 
and  lean  glory,  and  to  their  Babel  of  confusion  worse 
confounded,  let  Christian  Scientists  be  charitable.  Let 
the  voice  of  Truth  and  Love  be  heard  above  the  dire 
din  of  mortal  nothingness,  and  the  majestic  march  of 
Christian  Science  go  on  ad  infinitum,  praising  God, 
doing  the  works  of  primitive  Christianity,  and  enlighten- 
ing the  world. 

To  protect  the  public,  students  of  the  Massachusetts 
Metaphysical  College  have  received  certificates,  and  these 
credentials  are  still  required  of  all  who  claim  to  teach 
Christian  Science. 

Inquiries  have  been  made  as  to  the  precise  significa- 
tion of  the  letters  of  degrees  that  follow  the  names  of 
Christian  Scientists.  They  indicate,  respectively,  the 
degrees  of  Bachelor  and  Doctor  of  Christian  Science, 
conferred  by  the  President  or  Vice-President  of  the 
Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College.  The  first  degree 
(C.S.B.)  is  given  to  students  of  the  Primary  class;  the 


246  MISCELLANY 

second  degree  (C.S.D.)  is  given  to  those  who,  after 
receiving  the  first  degree,  continue  for  three  years  as 
practitioners  of  Christian  Science  in  good  and  regular 
standing. 

Students  who  enter  the  Massachusetts  Metaphys- 
ical College,  or  are  examined  under  its  auspices  by 
the  Board  of  Education,  must  be  well  educated  and 
have  practised  Christian  Science  three  years  with  good 
success. 

The  Board  of  Education 

In  the  year  1889,  to  gain  a  higher  hope  for  the  race,  I 
closed  my  College  in  the  midst  of  unprecedented  pros- 
perity, left  Boston,  and  sought  in  solitude  and  silence  a 
higher  understanding  of  the  absolute  scientific  unity  which 
must  exist  between  the  teaching  and  letter  of  Christianity 
and  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  dwelling  forever  in  the 
divine  Mind  or  Principle  of  man's  being  and  revealed 
through  the  human  character. 

While  revising  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,"  the  light  and  might  of  the  divine  concur- 
rence of  the  spirit  and  the  Word  appeared,  and  the 
result  is  an  auxiliary  to  the  College  called  the  Board  of 
Education  of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
in  Boston,  Mass. 

Our  Master  said:  "WTiat  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now; 
but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter;"  and  the  spirit  of  his 
mission,  the  wisdom  of  his  words,  and  the  immortal- 
ity of  his  works  are  the  same  to-day  as  yesterday  and 
forever. 

The  Magna  Charta  of  Christian  Science  means  much, 


TO  A  FIRST  READER  247 

multum  in  parvo,  —  all-in-one  and  one-in-all.  It  stands 
for  the  inalienable,  universal  rights  of  men.  Essentially 
democratic,  its  government  is  administered  by  the 
common  consent  of  the  governed,  wherein  and  whereby 
man  governed  by  his  creator  is  self-governed.  The 
church  is  the  mouthpiece  of  Christian  Science,  —  its 
law  and  gospel  are  according  to  Christ  Jesus;  its  rules 
are  health,  holiness,  and  immortality,  —  equal  rights  and 
privileges,  equality  of  the  sexes,  rotation  in  office. 

To  A  First  Reader 

Beloved  Student :  —  Christ  is  meekness  and  Truth 
enthroned.  Put  on  the  robes  of  Christ,  and  you  will 
be  lifted  up  and  will  draw  all  men  unto  you.  The 
little  fishes  in  my  fountain  must  have  felt  me  when  I 
stood  silently  beside  it,  for  they  came  out  in  orderly 
line  to  the  rim  where  I  stood.  Then  I  fed  these 
sweet  little  thoughts  that,  not  fearing  me,  sought  their 
food  of  me. 

God  has  called  you  to  be  a  fisher  of  men.  It  is  not  a 
stern  but  a  loving  look  which  brings  forth  mankind  to 
receive  your  bestowal,  —  not  so  much  eloquence  as  tender 
persuasion  that  takes  away  their  fear,  for  it  is  Love  alone 
that  feeds  them. 

Do  you  come  to  your  little  flock  so  filled  with  divine 
food  that  you  cast  your  bread  upon  the  waters?  Then 
be  sure  that  after  many  or  a  few  days  it  will  return 
to  you. 

The  little  that  I  have  accomplished  has  all  been 
done  through  love,  —  self-forgetful,  patient,  unfaltering 
tenderness. 


248  MISCELLANY 

The  Christian  Science  Board  of  Lectureship 

Beloved  Students:  —  I  am  more  than  satisfied  with  your 
work :  its  grandeur  almost  surprises  me.  Let  your  watch- 
word always  be : 

"Great,  not  like  Caesar,  stained  with  blood, 
But  only  great  as  I  am  good." 

You  are  not  setting  up  to  be  great;  you  are  here  for  the 
purpose  of  grasping  and  defining  the  demonstrable,  the 
eternal.  Spiritual  heroes  and  prophets  are  they  whose 
new-old  birthright  is  to  put  an  end  to  falsities  in  a  wise 
way  and  to  proclaim  Truth  so  winningly  that  an  honest, 
fervid  affection  for  the  race  is  found  adequate  for  the 
emancipation  of  the  race. 

You  are  the  needed  and  the  inevitable  sponsors  for  the 
twentieth  century,  reaching  deep  down  into  the  univer- 
sal and  rising  above  theorems  into  the  transcendental, 
the  infinite  —  yea,  to  the  reality  of  God,  man,  nature, 
the  universe.  No  fatal  circumstance  of  idolatry  can  fold 
or  falter  your  wings.  No  fetishism  with  a  symbol  can 
fetter  your  flight.  You  soar  only  as  uplifted  by  God's 
power,  or  you  fall  for  lack  of  the  divine  impetus.  You 
know  that  to  conceive  God  aright  you  must  be  good. 

The  Christ  mode  of  understanding  Life  —  of  extermi- 
nating sin  and  suffering  and  their  penalty,  death  —  I 
have  largely  committed  to  you,  my  faithful  witnesses. 
You  go  forth  to  face  the  foe  with  loving  look  and  with  the 
religion  and  philosophy  of  labor,  duty,  liberty,  and  love, 
to  challenge  universal  indifference,  chance,  and  creeds. 
Your  highest  inspiration  is  found  nearest  the  divine 
Principle  and  nearest  the  scientific  expression  of  Truth. 


READERS  IN  CHURCH  249 

You  may  condemn  evil  in  the  abstract  without  harming 
any  one  or  your  own  moral  sense,  but  condemn  persons 
seldom,  if  ever.  Improve  every  opportunity  to  correct 
sin  through  your  own  perfectness.  When  error  strives  to 
be  heard  above  Truth,  let  the  "still  small  voice"  produce 
God's  phenomena.  Meet  dispassionately  the  raging  ele- 
ment of  individual  hate  and  counteract  its  most  gigantic 
falsities. 

The  moral  abandon  of  hating  even  one's  enemies  ex- 
cludes goodness.  Hate  is  a  moral  idiocy  let  loose  for 
one's  own  destruction.  Unless  withstood,  the  heat  of 
hate  burns  the  wheat,  spares  the  tares,  and  sends  forth  a 
mental  miasma  fatal  to  health,  happiness,  and  the  morals 
of  mankind,  —  and  all  this  only  to  satiate  its  loathing  of 
love  and  its  revenge  on  the  patience,  silence,  and  lives 
of  saints.  The  marvel  is,  that  at  this  enhghtened  period 
a  respectable  newspaper  should  countenance  such  evil 
tendencies. 

Millions  may  know  that  I  am  the  Founder  of  Chris- 
tian Science.     I  alone  know  what  that  means. 

Readers  in  Church 

The  report  that  I  prefer  to  have  a  man,  rather  than 
a  woman,  for  First  Reader  in  The  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  I  desire  to  correct.  My  preference  lies  with 
the  individual  best  fitted  to  perform  this  important 
function.  If  both  the  First  and  Second  Readers  are  my 
students,  then  without  reference  to  sex  I  should  prefer 
that  student  who  is  most  spiritually-minded.  What  our 
churches  need  ig  that  devout,  unselfed  quality  of  thought 
which  spirituaUzes  the  congregation. 


250  MISCELLANY 

Words  for  the  Wise 

The  By-law  of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
relative  to  a  three  years'  term  for  church  Readers,  was 
entitled  to  and  has  received  profound  attention.  Rotation 
in  office  promotes  wisdom,  quiets  mad  ambition,  satisfies 
justice,  and  crowns  honest  endeavors. 

The  best  Christian  Scientists  will  be  the  first  to  adopt 
this  By-law  in  their  churches,  and  their  Readers  will 
retire  ex  qfficio,  after  three  years  of  acceptable  service  as 
church  Readers,  to  higher  usefulness  in  this  vast  vineyard 
of  our  Lord. 

The  churches  who  adopt  this  By-law  will  please  send 
to  the  Editor  of  our  periodicals  notice  of  their  action. 

Afterglow 

Beloved  Students: —  The  By-law  of  The  Mother 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  stipulating  three  years  as 
the  term  for  its  Readers,  neither  binds  nor  compels  the 
branch  churches  to  follow  suit;  and  the  By-law  applies 
only  to  Christian  Science .  churches  in  the  Ignited  States 
and  Canada.  Doubtless  the  churches  adopting  this 
By-law  will  discriminate  as  regards  its  adaptability  to 
their  conditions.  But  if  now  is  not  the  time,  the  branch 
churches  can  wait  for  the  favored  moment  to  act  on  this 
subject. 

I  rest  peacefully  in  knowing  that  the  impulsion  of  this 
action  in  The  Mother  Church  was  from  above.  So  I  have 
faith  that  whatever  is  done  in  this  direction  by  the  branch 
churches  will  be  blest.  The  Readers  who  have  filled  this 
sacred   office  many  years,  have  beyond  it  duties  and 


GENERAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  TEACHERS    251 

attainments  beckoning  them.  What  these  are  I  cannot 
yet  say.  The  great  Master  saith:  "What  I  do  thou 
knowest  not  now;  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter." 

Teachers  of  Christian  Science 

I  reply  to  the  following  question  from  unknown  ques- 
tioners : 

"Are  the  students,  whom  I  have  taught,  obliged  to 
take  both  Primary  and  Normal  class  instruction  in  the 
Board  of  Education  in  order  to  become  teachers  of  Pri- 
mary classes?" 

No,  not  if  you  and  they  are  loyal  Christian  Scientists, 
and  not  if,  after  examination  in  the  Board  of  Education, 
your  pupils  are  found  eligible  to  enter  the  Normal  class, 
which  at  present  is  taught  in  the  Board  of  Education 
only. 

There  is  evidently  some  misapprehension  of  my  meaning 
as  to  the  mode  of  instruction  in  the  Board  of  Education. 
A  Primary  student  of  mine  can  teach  pupils  the  prac- 
tice of  Christian  Science,  and  after  three  years  of  good 
practice,  my  Primary  student  can  himself  be  examined  in 
the  Board  of  Education,  and  if  found  eligible,  receive  a 
certificate  of  the  degree  C.S.D. 

The  General  Association  of  Teachers,  1903 

My  Beloved  Students:  —  I  call  you  mine,  for  all  is  thine 
and  mine.  What  God  gives,  elucidates,  armors,  and  tests 
in  His  service,  is  ours;  and  we  are  His.  You  have  con- 
vened only  to  convince  yourselves  of  this  grand  verity: 
namely,  the  unity  in  Christian  Science.  Cherish  stead- 
fastly this  fact.     Adhere  to  the  teachings  of  the  Bible, 


252  MISCELLANY 

Science  and  Health,  and  our  Manual,  and  you  will  obey 
the  law  and  gospel.  Have  one  God  and  you  will 
have  no  devil.  Keep  yourselves  busy  with  divine  Love. 
Then  you  will  be  toilers  like  the  bee,  always  distributing 
sweet  things  which,  if  bitter  to  sense,  will  be  salutary  as 
Soul;  but  you  will  not  be  like  the  spider,  which  weaves 
webs  that  ensnare. 

Rest  assured  that  the  good  you  do  unto  others  you  do 
to  yourselves  as  well,  and  the  wrong  you  may  commit 
must,  will,  rebound  upon  you.  The  entire  purpose  of 
true  education  is  to  make  one  not  only  know  the  truth 
but  live  it  —  to  make  one  enjoy  doing  right,  make  one 
not  work  in  the  sunshine  and  run  away  in  the  storm,  but 
work  midst  clouds  of  wrong,  injustice,  envy,  hate;  and 
wait  on  God,  the  strong  deliverer,  who  will  reward  right- 
eousness and  punish  iniquity.  "As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy 
strength  be." 

The  London  Teachers'  Association,  1903 

Beloved  Students:  —  Your  letter  and  dottings  are  an 
oasis  in  my  wilderness.  They  point  to  verdant  pastures, 
and  are  already  rich  rays  from  the  eternal  sunshine  of 
Love,  lighting  and  leading  humanity  into  paths  of  peace 
and  holiness. 

Your  "Thanksgiving  Day,"  instituted  in  England  on 
New  Year's  Day,  was  a  step  in  advance.  It  expressed 
your  thanks,  and  gave  to  the  "happy  New  Year"  a  higher 
hint.  You  are  not  aroused  to  this  action  by  the  allure- 
ments of  wealth,  pride,  or  power;  the  impetus  comes  from 
above  —  it  is  moral,  spiritual,  divine.  All  hail  to  this 
higher  hope  that  neither  slumbers  nor  is  stilled  by  the 
cold  impulse  of  a  lesser  gain ! 


BOARD  OF  EDUCATION  253 

It  rejoices  me  to  know  that  you  know  that  healing 
the  sick,  soothing  sorrow,  brightening  this  lower  sphere 
with  the  ways  and  means  of  the  higher  and  everlasting 
harmony,  brings  to  light  the  perfect  original  man  and  uni- 
verse. What  nobler  achievement,  what  greater  glory  can 
nerve  your  endeavor?  Press  on!  My  heart  and  hope 
are  with  you. 

"Thou  art  not  here  for  ease  or  pain. 
But  manhood's  glorious  crown  to  gain." 

The  General  Association  of  Teachers,  1904 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  thank  you.  Jesus  said:  "The 
world  hath  not  known  Thee:  but  I  have  known  Thee, 
and  these  have  known  that  Thou  hast  sent  me." 

The  C'VN-'U)ian.  Teachers,  1904 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  Accept  my  love  and  these  words 
of  Jesus:  "Holy  Father,  keep  through  Thine  own  name 
those  whom  Thou  hast  given  me,  that  they  may  be  one, 
as  we  are." 

Students  in  the  Board  of  Education, 
December,  1904 

Beloved  Students: — You  will  accept  my  profound 
thanks  for  your  letter  and  telegram.  If  wishing  is  wise, 
I  send  with  this  a  store  of  wisdom  in  three  words:  God 
bless  you.  If  faith  is  fruition,  you  have  His  rich  blessing 
already  and  my  joy  therewith. 

We  understand  best  that  which  begins  in  ourselves 
and  by  education  brightens  into  birth.  Dare  to  be 
faithful   to  God   and   man.      Let  the  creature  become 


254  MISCELLANY 

« 

one  with  his  creator,  and  mysticism  departs,  heaven 
opens,  right  reigns,  and  you  have  begun  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian Scientist. 

The  May  Class,  1905 

Beloved:  —  I  am  glad  you  enjoy  the  dawn  of  Christian 
Science;  you  must  reach  its  meridian.  Watch,  pray, 
demonstrate.  Released  from  materialism,  you  shall  run 
and  not  be  weary,  walk  and  not  faint. 


The  December  Class,  1905 

Beloved  Students:  —  Responding  to  your  kind  letter, 
let  me  say:  You  will  reap  the  sure  reward  of  right  think- 
ing and  acting,  of  watching  and  praying,  and  you  will 
find  the  ever-present  God  an  ever-present  help.  I 
thank  the  faithful  teacher  of  this  class  and  its  dear 
members. 

"Rotation  in  Office" 

Dear  Leader:  —  May  we  have  permission  to  print,  as 
a  part  of  the  preamble  to  our  By-laws,  the  following 
extract  from  your  article  "Christian  Science  Board  of 
Education"  in  the  June  Journal  of  1904,  page  184:  — 

"  The  Magna  Charta  of  Christian  Science  means 
much,  multum  in  parvo,  —  all-in-one  and  one-in-all.  It 
stands  for  the  inalienable,  universal  rights  of  men. 
Essentially  democratic,  its  government  is  administered 
by  the  common  consent  of  the  governed,  wherein  and 
whereby  man  governed  by  his  creator  is  self-governed. 
The  church  is  the  mouthpiece  of  Christian  Science, 
—  its   law   and   gospel  are   according   to   Christ   Jesus; 


"ROTATION  IN  OFFICE"  255 

its  rules  are  health,  holiness,  and  immortality,  —  equal 
rights  and  privileges,  equality  of  the  sexes,  rotation 
in  office." 

MRS.   eddy's  reply 

Christian  Science  churches  have  my  consent  to  publish 
the  foregoing  in  their  By-laws.  By  "rotation  in  office" 
I  do  not  mean  that  minor  officers  who  are  filling  their 
positions  satisfactorily  should  be  removed  every  three 
years,  or  be  elevated  to  offices  for  which  they  are  not 
qualified. 

Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 
March  6,  1909. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

CHRISTMAS 

Early  Chimes,  December,  1898 

BEFORE  the  Christmas  bells  shall  ring,  allow  me 
to  improvise  some  new  notes,  not  specially  musi- 
cal to  be  sure,  but  admirably  adapted  to  the  key  of  my 
feeling  and  emphatically  phrasing  strict  observance  or 
note  well. 

This  year,  my  beloved  Christian  Scientists,  you  must 
grant  me  my  request  that  I  be  permitted  total  exemption 
from  Christmas  gifts.  Also  I  beg  to  send  to  you  all  a 
deep-drawn,  heartfelt  breath  of  thanks  for  those  things 
of  beauty  and  use  forming  themselves  in  your  thoughts 
to  send  to  your  Leader.  Thus  may  I  close  the  door  of 
mind  on  this  subject,  and  open  the  volume  of  Life  on 
the  pure  pages  of  impersonal  presents,  pleasures,  achieve- 
ments, and  aid. 

Christmas,  1900 

Again  loved  Christmas  is  here,  full  of  divine  benedic- 
tions and  crowned  with  the  dearest  memories  in  human 
history  —  the  earthly  advent  and  nativity  of  our  Lord 
and  Master.  At  this  happy  season  the  veil  of  time 
springs  aside  at  the  touch  of  Love.  We  count  our  bless- 
ings and  see  whence*  they  came  and  whither  they  tend. 
Parents  call  home  their  loved  ones,  the  Yule-fires  burn, 
the  festive  boards  are  spread,  the  gifts  glow  in  the  dark 

256 


CHRISTMAS  GIFTS  257 

green  branches  of  the  Christmas-tree.  But  alas  for  the 
broken  household  band!  God  give  to  them  more  of 
His  dear  love  that  heals  the  wounded  heart. 

To-day  the  watchful  shepherd  shouts  his  welcome  over 
the  new  cradle  of  an  old  truth.  This  truth  has  traversed 
night,  through  gloom  to  glory,  from  cradle  to  crown.  To 
the  awakened  consciousness,  the  Bethlehem  babe  has  left 
his  swaddling-clothes  (material  environments)  for  the 
form  and  comeliness  of  the  divine  ideal,  which  has  passed 
from  a  corporeal  to  the  spiritual  sense  of  Christ  and  is 
winning  the  heart  of  humanity  with  ineffable  tenderness. 
The  Christ  is  speaking  for  himself  and  for  his  mother, 
Christ's  heavenly  origin  and  aim.  To-day  the  Christ  is, 
more  than  ever  before,  "the  way,  the  truth,  and  the 
life,"  —  "which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
world,"  healing  all  sorrow,  sickness,  and  sin.  To  this 
auspicious  Christmastide,  which  hallows  the  close  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  our  hearts  are  kneeling  humbly.  We 
own  his  grace,  reviving  and  healing.  At  this  immortal 
hour,  all  human  hate,  pride,  greed,  lust  should  bow  and 
declare  Christ's  power,  and  the  reign  of  Truth  and  Life 
divine  should  make  man's  being  pure  and  blest. 

Christmas  Gifts 

Beloved  Students:  —  For  your  manifold  Christmas  memo- 
rials, too  numerous  to  name,  I  group  you  in  one  benison 
and  send  you  my  Christmas  gift,  two  words  enwrapped, 
—  love  and  thanks. 

To-day  Christian  Scientists  have  their  record  in  the 
monarch's  palace,  the  Alpine  hamlet,  the  Christian  trav- 
eller's resting-place.     Wherever  the  child  looks   up   in 


258  MISCELLANY 

prayer,  or  the  Book  of  Life  is  loved,  there  the  sinner  is 
reformed  and  the  sick  are  healed.  Those  are  the  "signs 
following."  What  is  it  that  Hfts  a  system  of  religion  to 
deserved  fame?  Nothing  is  worthy  the  name  of  religion 
save  one  lowly  offering  —  love. 

This  period,  so  fraught  with  opposites,  seems  illumi- 
nated for  woman's  hope  with  divine  light.  It  bids  her 
bind  the  tenderest  tendril  of  the  heart  to  all  of  holiest 
worth.  To  the  woman  at  the  sepulchre,  bowed  in  strong 
affection's  anguish,  one  word,  "Mary,"  broke  the  gloom 
with  Christ's  all-conquering  love.  Then  came  her  resurrec- 
tion and  task  of  glory,  to  know  and  to  do  God's  will,  — 
in  the  words  of  St.  Paul :  "  Looking  unto  Jesus  the  author 
and  finisher  of  our  faith;  who  for  the  joy  that  was  set  be- 
fore him  endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame,  and  is 
set  down  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God." 

The  memory  of  the  Bethlehem  babe  bears  to  mortals 
gifts  greater  than  those  of  Magian  kings,  —  hopes  that 
cannot  deceive,  that  waken  prophecy,  gleams  of  glory, 
coronals  of  meekness,  diadems  of  love.  Nor  should  they 
who 'drink  their  Master's  cup  repine  over  blossoms  that 
mock  their  hope  and  friends  that  forsake.  Divinely 
beautiful  are  the  Christmas  memories  of  him  who  sounded 
all  depths  of  love,  grief,  death,  and  humanity. 

To  the  dear  children  let  me  say:  Your  Christmas  gifts 
are  hallowed  by  our  Lord's  blessing.  A  transmitted 
charm  rests  on  them.  May  this  consciousness  of  God's 
dear  love  for  you  give  you  the  might  of  love,  and  may 
you  move  onward  and  upward,  lowly  in  its  majesty. 

To  the  children  who  sent  me  that  beautiful  statuette 
in  alabaster  —  a  child  with  finger  on  her  lip  reading  a  book 
—  I  write:  Fancy  yourselves  with  me;  take  a  peep  into 


THE  SIGNIFICANCE  OF  CHRISTMAS     259 

my  studio;  look  again  at  your  gift,  and  you  will  see  the 
sweetest  sculptured  face  and  form  conceivable,  mounted 
on  its  pedestal  between  my  bow  windows,  and  on  either 
side  lace  and  flowers.  I  have  named  it  my  white  student. 
From  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  London, 
Great  Britain,  I  received  the  following  cabled  message:  — 

Rev.  Mrs.  Eddy,  Pleasant  View, 
Concord,  N.  H. 

Loving,  grateful  Christmas  greetings   from   members 
London,  England,  church. 
December  24,  1901. 

To  this  church  across  the  sea  I  return  my  heart's  wire- 
less love.  All  our  dear  churches'  Christmas  telegrams  to 
me  are  refreshing  and  most  pleasing  Christmas  presents, 
for  they  require  less  attention  than  packages  and  give  me 
more  time  to  think  and  work  for  others.  I  hope  that  in 
1902  the  churches  will  remember  me  only  thus.  Do  not 
forget  that  an  honest,  wise  zeal,  a  lowly,  triumphant 
trust,  a  true  heart,  and  a  helping  hand  constitute  man, 
and  nothing  less  is  man  or  woman. 

[New  York  World] 

The  Significance  of  Christmas 

Certain  occasions,  considered  either  collectively  or 
individually  and  observed  properly,  tend  to  give  the 
activity  of  man  infinite  scope;  but  mere  merry-making 
or  needless  gift-giving  is  not  that  in  which  human  capac- 
ities find  the  most  appropriate  and  proper  exercise. 
Christmas  respects  the  Christ  too  much  to  submerge 
itself  in  merely  temporary  means  and  ends.  It  represents 
the  eternal  informing  Soul  recognized  only  in  harmony. 


260  misce;llany 

in  the  beauty  and  bounty  of  Life  everlasting,  —  in  the 
truth  that  is  Life,  the  Life  that  heals  and  saves  man- 
kind. An  eternal  Christmas  would  make  matter  an  alien 
save  as  phenomenon,  and  matter  would  reverentially 
withdraw  itself  before  Mind.  The  despotism  of  material 
sense  or  the  flesh  would  flee  before  such  reality,  to  make 
room  for  substance,  and  the  shadow  of  frivolity  and  the 
inaccuracy  of  material  sense  would  disappear. 

In  Christian  Science,  Christmas  stands  for  the  real,  the 
absolute  and  eternal, — for  the  things  of  Spirit,  not  of  mat- 
ter. Science  is  divine;  it  hath  no  partnership  with  human 
means  and  ends,  no  half-way  stations.  Nothing  condi- 
tional or  material  belongs  to  it.  Human  reason  and  phi- 
losophy may  pursue  paths  devious,  the  line  of  liquids,  the 
lure  of  gold,  the  doubtful  sense  that  falls  short  of  sub- 
stance, the  things  hoped  for  and  the  evidence  unseen. 

The  basis  of  Christmas  is  the  rock,  Christ  Jesus;  its 
fruits  are  inspiration  and  spiritual  understanding  of  joy 
and  rejoicing,  —  not  because  of  tradition,  usage,  or  cor- 
poreal pleasures,  but  because  of  fundamental  and  de- 
monstrable truth,  because  of  the  heaven  within  us.  The 
basis  of  Christmas  is  love  loving  its  enemies,  returning 
good  for  evil,  love  that  "suffereth  long,  and  is  kind."  The 
true  spirit  of  Christmas  elevates  medicine  to  Mind;  it 
casts  out  evils,  heals  the  sick,  raises  the  dormant  facul- 
ties, appeals  to  all  conditions,  and  supplies  every  need  of 
man.  It  leaves  hygiene,  medicine,  ethics,  and  religion 
to  God  and  His  Christ,  to  that  which  is  the  Way,  in  word 
and  in  deed,  —  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life. 

There  is  but  one  Jesus  Christ  on  record.  Christ  is 
incorporeal.  Neither  the  you  nor  the  I  in  the  flesh  can 
be  or  is  Christ. 


WHAT  CHRISTMAS  MEANS  TO  ME        261 

Christmas  for  the  Children 

Methinks  the  lo%ing  parents  and  guardians  of  youth 
ofttimes  query :  How  shall  we  cheer  the  children's  Christ- 
mas and  profit  them  withal?  The  wisdom  of  their  elders, 
who  seek  wisdom  of  God,  seems  to  have  amply  provided 
for  this,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  age  and  to  the  full 
supply  of  juvenile  joy.  Let  it  continue  thus  with  one 
exception:  the  children  should  not  be  taught  to  believe 
that  Santa  Claus  has  aught  to  do  with  this  pastime.  A 
deceit  or  falsehood  is  never  wise.  Too  much  cannot  be 
done  towards  guarding  and  guiding  well  the  germinating 
and  incUning  thought  of  childhood.  To  mould  aright 
the  first  impressions  of  innocence,  aids  in  perpetu- 
ating purity  and  in  unfolding  the  immortal  model,  man 
in  His  image  and  likeness.  St.  Paul  wrote,  "When  I 
was  a  child,  I  spake  as  a  child,  I  understood  as  a 
child,  .  .  ,  but  when  I  became  a  man,  I  put  away 
childish  things." 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.H., 
December  28,  1905. 

[The  Ladies'  Home  Journal] 

What  Christmas  Means  to  Me 

To  me  Christmas  involves  an  open  secret,  understood 
by  few  —  or  by  none  —  and  unutterable  except  in  Chris- 
tian Science.  Christ  was  not  born  of  the  flesh.  Christ 
is  the  Truth  and  Life  born  of  God  —  born  of  Spirit  and 
not  of  matter.  Jesus,  the  Galilean  Prophet,  was  born 
of  the  Virgin  Mary's  spiritual  thoughts  of  Life  and  its 
manifestation. 


262  MISCELLANY 

God  creates  man  perfect  and  eternal  in  His  own  image. 
Hence  man  is  the  image,  idea,  or  likeness  of  perfection 
—  an  ideal  which  cannot  fall  from  its  inherent  unity 
with  divine  Love,  from  its  spotless  purity  and  original 
perfection. 

Observed  by  material  sense,  Christmas  commemorates 
the  birth  of  a  human,  material,  mortal  babe  —  a  babe 
born  in  a  manger  amidst  the  flocks  and  herds  of  a  Jewish 
village. 

This  homely  origin  of  the  babe  Jesus  falls  far  short 
of  my  sense  of  the  eternal  Christ,  Truth,  never  born  and 
never  dying.  I  celebrate  Christmas  with  my  soul,  my 
spiritual  sense,  and  so  commemorate  the  entrance  into 
human  understanding  of  the  Christ  conceived  of  Spirit, 
of  God  and  not  of  a  woman  —  as  the  birth  of  Truth,  the 
dawn  of  divine  Love  breaking  upon  the  gloom  of  matter 
and  evil  with  the  glory  of  infinite  being. 

Human  doctrines  or  hypotheses  or  vague  human  phi- 
losophy afford  little  divine  effulgence,  deific  presence  or 
power.  Christmas  to  me  is  the  reminder  of  God's  great 
gift, — His  spiritual  idea,  man  and  the  universe, — 
a  gift  which  so  transcends  mortal,  material,  sensual  giv- 
ing that  the  merriment,  mad  ambition,  rivalry,  and 
ritual  of  our  common  Christmas  seem  a  human  mock- 
ery in  mimicry  of  the  real  worship  in  commemoration 
of  Christ's  coming. 

I  love  to  observe  Christmas  in  quietude,  humihty, 
benevolence,  charity,  letting  good  will  towards  man,  elo- 
quent silence,  prayer,  and  praise  express  my  conception 
of  Truth's  appearing. 

The  splendor  of  this  nativity  of  Christ  reveals  infinite 
meanings  and  gives  manifold  blessings.     Material  gifts 


MRS.   EDDY'S  CHRISTMAS  MESSAGE     263 

and  pastimes  tend  to  obliterate  the  spiritual  idea  in  con- 
sciousness, leaving  one  alone  and  without  His  glory. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Christmas  Message 
My  Household. 

Beloved :  —  A  word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient.  Mother 
wishes  you  all  a  happy  Christmas,  a  feast  of  Soul  and  a 
famine  of  sense. 

Lovingly  thine, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
December  25,  1909. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  NEWSPAPERS 
AND  MAGAZINES 

[Boston  Herald,  May  5,  1900] 
A  Word  in  Defence 

1EVEN  hope  that  those  who  are  kind  enough  to 
speak  well  of  ine  may  do  so  honestly  and  not  too 
earnestly,  and  this  seldom,  until  mankind  learn  more  of 
my  meaning  and  can  speak  justly  of  my  living. 

[Boston  Globe,  November  29,  1900] 
Christian  Science  Thanks 

On  the  threshold  of  the  twentieth  century,  will  you 
please  send  through  the  Globe  to  the  people  of  New 
England,  which  is  the  birthplace  of  Thanksgiving  Day,  a 
sentiment  on  what  the  last  Thanksgiving  Day  of  the 
nineteenth  century  should  signify  to  all  mankind? 

MRS.    eddy's    response 

New  England's  last  Thanksgiving  Day  of  this  century 
signifies  to  the  minds  of  men  the  Bible  better  understood 
and  Truth  and  Love  made  more  practical;  the  First 
Commandment  of  the  Decalogue  more  imperative,  and 

264 


CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE  THANKS  265 

"Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself"  more  possible  and 
pleasurable. 

It  signifies  that  love,  unselfed,  knocks  more  loudly  than 
ever  before  at  the  heart  of  humanity  and  that  it  finds 
admittance;  that  revelation,  spiritual  voice  and  vision, 
are  less  subordinate  to  material  sight  and  sound  and  more 
apparent  to  reason;  that  evil  flourishes  less,  invests  less 
in  trusts,  loses  capital,  and  is  bought  at  par  value;  that 
the  Christ-spirit  will  cleanse  the  earth  of  human  gore; 
that  civilization,  i>eace  between  nations,  and  the  brother- 
hood of  man  should  be  established,  and  justice  plead  not 
vainly  in  behalf  of  the  sacred  rights  of  individuals,  peoples, 
and  nations. 

It  signifies  that  the  Science  of  Christianity  has  dawned 
upon  human  thought  to  appear  full-orbed  in  millennial 
glory;  that  scientific  religion  and  scientific  therapeutics 
are  improving  the  morals  and  increasing  the  longevity 
of  mankind,  are  mitigating  and  destroying  sin,  disease, 
and  death;  that  religion  and  materia  medica  should  be 
no  longer  tyrannical  and  proscriptive;  that  divine  Love, 
impartial  and  universal,  as  understood  in  divine  Sci- 
ence, forms  the  coincidence  of  the  human  and  divine, 
which  fulfils  the  saying  of  our  great  Master,  "The  king- 
dom of  God  is  within  you;"  that  the  atmosphere  of  the 
human  mind,  when  cleansed  of  self  and  permeated  with 
divine  Love,  will  reflect  this  purified  subjective  state  in 
clearer  skies,  less  thunderbolts,  tornadoes,  and  extremes  of 
heat  and  cold ;  that  agriculture,  manufacture,  commerce, 
and  wealth  should  be  governed  by  honesty,  indus- 
try, and  justice,  reaching  out  to  all  classes  and  peoples. 
For  these  signs  of  the  times  we  thank  our  Father- 
Mother  God. 


266  MISCELLANY 

[New  York  World,  February,  1901] 
Insufficient  Freedom 

To  my  sense,  the  most  imminent  dangers  confronting 
the  coming  century  are :  the  robbing  of  people  of  life  and 
liberty  under  the  warrant  of  the  Scriptures;  the  claims  of 
politics  and  of  human  power,  industrial  slavery,  and  insuf- 
ficient freedom  of  honest  competition;  and  ritual,  creed, 
and  trusts  in  place  of  the  Golden  Rule,  "Whatsoever  ye 
would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them," 

[Concord  (N.  H.)  Monitor,  July,  1902] 

Christian  Science  and  the  Times 

Your  article  on  the  decrease  of  students  in  the  semi- 
naries and  the  consequent  vacancies  occurring  in  the 
pulpits,  points  unmistakably  to  the  "signs  of  the  times" 
of  which  Jesus  spoke.  This  flux  and  flow  in  one  direc- 
tion, so  generally  apparent,  tends  in  one  ultimate  —  the 
final  spiritualization  of  all  things,  of  all  codes,  modes, 
hypotheses,  of  man  and  the  universe.  How  can  it  be 
otherwise,  since  God  is  Spirit  and  the  origin  of  all  that 
really  is,  and  since  this  great  fact  is  to  be  verified  by  the 
spiritualization  of  all? 

Since  1877,  these  special  "signs  of  the  times"  have  in- 
creased year  by  year.  My  book,  "Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures,"  was  published  in  1875. 
Note,  if  you  please,  that  many  points  in  theology  and 
materia  medica,  at  that  date  undisturbed,  are  now  agitated, 
modified,  and  disappearing,  and  the  more  spiritual  modes 
and  significations  are  adopted. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  Christian  Science  is  destined 


HEAVEN  267 

to  become  the  one  and  the  only  religion  and  therapeutics 
on  this  planet.  And  why  not,  since  Christianity  is  fully 
demonstrated  to  be  divine  Science?  Nothing  can  be  cor- 
rect and  continue  forever  which  is  not  divinely  scientific, 
for  Science  is  the  law  of  the  Mind  that  is  God,  who  is 
the  originator  of  all  that  really  is.  The  Scripture  reads: 
"All  things  were  made  by  Him;  and  without  Him  was 
not  any  thing  made  that  was  made."  Here  let  us  re- 
member that  God  is  not  the  Alpha  and  Omega  of  man 
and  the  universe;  He  is  supreme,  infinite,  the  great  for- 
ever, the  eternal  Mind  that  hath  no  beginning  and  no 
end,  no  Alpha  and  no  Omega. 

[New  York  American,  February,  1905] 

Heaven 

Is  heaven  spiritual? 

Heaven  is  spiritual.  Heaven  is  harmony,  —  infinite, 
boundless  bliss.  The  dying  or  the  departed  enter  heaven 
in  proportion  to  their  progress,  in  proportion  to  their  fit- 
ness to  partake  of  the  quality  and  the  quantity  of  heaven. 
One  individual  may  first  awaken  from  his  dream  of  life 
in  matter  with  a  sense  of  music;  another  with  that  of 
relief  from  fear  or  suffering,  and  still  another  with  a  bit- 
ter sense  of  lost  opportunities  and  remorse.  Heaven  is 
the  reign  of  divine  Science.  Material  thought  tends  to 
obscure  spiritual  understanding,  to  darken  the  true  con- 
ception of  man's  divine  Principle,  Love,  wherein  and 
whereby  soul  is  emancipate  and  environed  with  ever- 
lasting Life.  Our  great  Teacher  hath  said :  "  Behold,  the 
kingdom  of  God  is  within  you"  —  within  man's  spiritual 
understanding  of  all  the  divine  modes,  means,  forms,  ex- 
pression, and  manifestation  of  goodness  and  happiness. 


268  MISCELLANY 

[Boston  Herald,  March  5,  1905] 
Prevention  and  Cure  of  Divorce 

The  nuptial  vow  should  never  be  annulled  so  long  as 
the  morale  of  marriage  is  preserved.  The  frequency  of 
divorce  shows  that  the  imperative  nature  of  the  mar- 
riage relation  is  losing  ground,  —  hence  that  some  funda- 
mental error  is  engrafted  on  it.  What  is  this  error? 
If  the  motives  of  human  affection  are  right,  the  affec- 
tions are  enduring  and  achieving.  What  God  hath  joined 
together,  man  cannot  sunder. 

Divorce  and  war  should  be  exterminated  according  to 
the  Principle  of  law  and  gospel,  —  the  maintenance  of 
individual  rights,  the  justice  of  civil  codes,  and  the  power 
of  Truth  uplifting  the  motives  of  men.  Two  command- 
ments of  the  Hebrew  Decalogue,  "  Thou  shalt  not  commit 
adultery"  and  "Thou  shalt  not  kill,"  obeyed,  will  elimi- 
nate divorce  and  war.  On  what  hath  not  a  "Thus  saith 
the  Lord,"  I  am  as  silent  as  the  dumb  centuries  without 
a  living  Divina. 

This  time-world  flutters  in  my  thought  as  an  unreal 
shadow,  and  I  can  only  solace  the  sore  ills  of  mankind  by 
a  lively  battle  with  "the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil," 
in  which  Love  is  the  liberator  and  gives  man  the  victory 
over  himself.  Truth,  canonized  by  life  and  love,  lays 
the  axe  at  the  root  of  all  evil,  lifts  the  curtain  on  the 
Science  of  being,  the  Science  of  wedlock,  of  living  and  of 
loving,  and  harmoniously  ascends  the  scale  of  life.  Look 
high  enough,  and  you  see  the  heart  of  humanity  warming 
and  winning.  Look  long  enough,  and  you  see  male  and 
female  one  —  sex  or  gender  eliminated ;  you  see  the  des- 
ignation man  meaning  woman  as  well,  and  you  see  the 


HARVEST  269 

whole  universe  included  in  one  infinite  Mind  and  reflected 
in  the  intelligent  compound  idea,  image  or  likeness,  called 
man,  showing  forth  the  infinite  divine  Principle,  Love, 
called  God,  —  man  wedded  to  the  Lamb,  pledged  to  inno- 
cence, purity,  perfection.  Then  shall  humanity  have 
learned  that  "they  which  shall  be  accounted  worthy  to 
obtain  that  world,  and  the  resurrection  from  the  dead, 
neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage:  neither  can 
they  die  any  more:  for  they  are  equal  unto  the  angels; 
and  are  the  children  of  God."  (Luke  20:  35,  36.)  This, 
therefore,  is  Christ's  plan  of  salvation  from  divorce. 

All  are  but  parts  of  one  stupendous  whole, 
Whose  body  nature  is,  and  God  the  Soul. 

—  Pope. 

[The  Independent,  November,  19061 

Harvest 

God  hath  thrust  in  the  sickle,  and  He  is  separating  the 
tares  from  the  wheat.  This  hour  is  molten  in  the  furnace 
of  Soul.  Its  harvest  song  is  world-wide,  world-known, 
world-great.  The  vine  is  bringing  forth  its  fruit;  the 
beams  of  right  have  healing  in  their  light.  The  windows 
of  heaven  are  sending  forth  their  rays  of  reality  —  even 
Christian  Science,  pouring  out  blessing  for  cursing,  and 
rehearsing:  "I  will  rebuke  the  devourer  for  your  sakes, 
and  he  shall  not  destroy  the  fruits  of  your  ground." 
"  Prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  if  I 
will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  you 
out  a  blessing,  that  there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to 
receive  it." 

The  lie  and  the  liar  are  self-destroyed.    Truth  is  im- 


270  MISCELLANY 

mortal.  "Rejoice,  and  be  exceeding  glad:  ...  for  so 
persecuted  they  the  prophets  which  were  before  you." 
The  cycle  of  good  obliterates  the  epicycle  of  evil. 

Because  of  the  magnitude  of  their  spiritual  import,  we 
repeat  the  signs  of  these  times.  In  1905,  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church,  my  first  religious  home  in  this  capital 
city  of  Concord,  X.  H.,  kindly  invited  me  to  its  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-fifth  anniversary;  the  leading  editors 
and  newspapers  of  my  native  State  congratulate  me ;  the 
records  of  my  ancestry  attest  honesty  and  valor.  Divine 
Love,  nearer  my  consciousness  than  before,  saith:  I  am 
rewarding  your  waiting,  and  "thy  people  shall  be  my 
people." 

Let  error  rage  and  imagine  a  vain  thing.  Mary  Baker 
Eddy  is  not  dead,  and  the  words  of  those  who  say  that  she 
is  are  the  father  of  their  vrish.  Her  life  is  proven  under 
trial,  and  evidences  "  as  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be." 

Those  words  of  our  dear,  departing  Saviour,  breathing 
love  for  his  enemies,  fill  my  heart :  "  Father,  forgive  them ; 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  My  writings  heal  the 
sick,  and  I  thank  God  that  for  the  past  forty  years  I 
have  returned  good  for  evil,  and  that  I  can  appeal  to 
Him  as  my  witness  to  the  truth  of  this  statement. 

What  we  love  determines  what  we  are.  I  love  the 
prosperity  of  Zion,  be  it  promoted  by  Catholic,  by  Prot- 
estant, or  by  Christian  Science,  which  anoints  with 
Truth,  opening  the  eyes  of  the  blind  and  healing  the  sick. 
I  would  no  more  quarrel  with  a  man  because  of  his  religion 
than  I  would  because  of  his  art.  The  divine  Principle  of 
Christian  Science  will  ultimately  be  seen  to  control  both 
religion  and  art  in  unity  and  harmony.  God  is  Spirit, 
and  "they  that  worship  Him  must  worship  Him  in  spirit 


MRS.   EDDY'S  HUMAN   IDEAL  271 

and  in  truth."  If,  as  the  Scriptures  declare,  God,  Spirit, 
is  infinite,  matter  and  material  sense  are  null,  and  there 
are  no  vertebrata,  moUusca,  or  radiata. 

When  I  wrote  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the 
Scriptures,"  I  little  understood  all  that  I  indited;  but 
when  I  practised  its  precepts,  healing  the  sick  and  reform- 
ing the  sinner,  then  I  learned  the  truth  of  what  I  had 
written.  It  is  of  comparatively  little  importance  what  a 
man  thinks  or  believes  he  knows;  the  good  that  a  man  does 
is  the  one  thing  needful  and  the  sole  proof  of  rightness. 

[The  Evening  Press,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  August,  1907] 

Mrs.  Eddy  Describes  her  Human  Ideal 

In  a  modest,  pleasantly  situated  home  in  the  city  of 
Concord  N.  H.,  lives  at  eighty-six  years  of  age  the  most 
discussed  woman  in  all  the  world.  This  lady  with  sweet 
smile  and  snowy  hair  is  Mrs.  IMary  Baker  Eddy,  Founder 
and  Leader  of  Christian  Science,  beloved  of  thousands 
of  believers  and  followers  of  the  thought  that  has  made 
her  famous.  It  was  to  this  aged  woman  of  world-wide 
renown  that  the  editor  of  The  Evening  Press  addressed 
this  question,  requesting  the  courtesy  of  a  reply:  — 
"What  is  nearest  and  dearest  to  your  heart  to-day?" 
Mrs.  Eddy's  reply  will  be  read  with  deep  interest  by  all 
Americans,  who,  whatever  their  religious  beliefs,  cannot 
fail  to  be  impressed  by  the  personality  of  this  remarkable 
woman. 

MRS.    eddy's    answer 

Editxjr  of  The  Evening  Press :  —  To  your  courtesy  and 
to  your  question  permit  me  to  say  that,  insomuch  as  I 
know  myself,  what  is  "nearest  and  dearest"  to  my  heart 


272  MISCELLANY 

is  an  honest  man  or  woman  —  one  who  steadfastly  and 
actively  strives  for  perfection,  one  who  leavens  the  loaf 
of  Ufe  with  justice,  mercy,  truth,  and  love. 

Goodness  is  greatness,  and  the  logic  of  events  pushes 
onward  the  centuries;  hence  the  Scripture,  "The  law  of 
the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  [man]  free 
from  the  law  of  sin  and  death." 

This  predicate  and  ultimate  of  scientific  being  presents, 
however,  no  claim  that  man  is  equal  to  God,  for  the  finite 
is  not  the  altitude  of  the  infinite. 

The  real  man  was,  is,  and  ever  shall  be  the  divine  ideal, 
that  is,  God's  image  and  likeness;  and  Christian  Science 
reveals  the  divine  Principle,  the  example,  the  rule,  and 
the  demonstration  of  this  idealism. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 

[Cosmopditan,  November,  1907] 
Youth  and  Young  Manhood 

Editor's  Note.  —  The  Cosmopolitan  presents  this  month  to  its 
readers  a  facsimile  of  an  article  sent  to  us  by  Mrs.  Eddy,  with  the 
corrections  on  the  manuscript  reproduced  in  her  own  handwriting. 
Not  only  Mrs.  Eddy's  own  devoted  followers,  but  the  public  gen- 
erally, will  be  interested  in  this  communication  from  the  extraordi- 
nary woman  who,  nearly  eighty-seven  years  of  age,  plays  so  great 
a  part  in  the  world  and  leads  with  such  conspicuous  success  her  very 
great  following. 

Mrs.  Eddy  writes  very  rarely  for  any  publications  outside  of  the 
Christian  Science  periodicals,  and  our  readers  will  be  interested  in 
this  presentation  of  the  thought  of  a  mind  that  has  had  so  much 
influence  on  this  generation. 

The  Cosmopolitan  gives  no  editorial  indorsement  to  the  teachings 


YOUTH  AND  YOUNG  MANHOOD    273 

of  Christian  Science,  it  has  no  religious  opinions  or  predilections  to 
put  before  its  readers.  This  manuscript  is  presented  simply  as  an 
interesting  and  remarkable  proof  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  ability  in  old  age 
to  vindicate  in  her  own  person  the  value  of  her  teachings. 

Certainly,  Christian  Scientists,  enthusiastic  in  their  beUef,  are 
fortunate  in  being  able  to  point  to  a  Leader  far  beyond  the  allotted 
years  of  man,  emerging  triumphantly  from  all  attacks  upon  her,  and 
guiding  with  remarkable  skill,  determination,  and  energy  a  very 
great  organization  that  covers  practically  the  civilized  world. 

King  David,  the  Hebrew  bard,  sang,  "I  have  been 
young,  and  now  am  old;  yet  have  I  not  seen  the  right- 
eous forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging  bread." 

I  for  one  accept  his  wise  deduction,  his  ultimate  or 
spiritual  sense  of  thinking,  feeling,  and  acting,  and  its 
reward.  This  sense  of  rightness  acquired  by  experience 
and  wisdom,  should  be  eariy  presented  to  youth  and  to 
manhood  in  order  to  forewarn  and  forearm  humanity. 

The  ultimatum  of  life  here  and  hereafter  is  utteriy 
apart  from  a  material  or  personal  sense  of  pleasure,  pain, 
joy,  sorrow,  life,  and  death.  The  truth  of  life,  or  life  in 
truth,  is  a  scientific  knowledge  that  is  portentous;  and 
is  won  only  by  the  spiritual  understanding  of  Life  as  God, 
good,  ever-present  good,  and  therefore  life  eternal. 

You  will  agree  with  me  that  the  material  body  is  mortal, 
but  Soul  is  immortal;  also  that  the  five  personal  senses 
are  perishable:  they  lapse  and  relapse,  come  and  go,  until 
at  length  they  are  consigned  to  dust.  But  say  you, 
"Man  awakes  from  the  dream  of  death  in  possession  of 
the  five  personal  senses,  does  he  not?"  Yes,  because 
death  alone  does  not  awaken  man  in  God's  image 
and    likeness.    The  di\-ine  Science  of  Life  alone  gives 

Copyright,  1907,  by  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy. 


274  MISCELLANY 

the  true  sense  of  life  and  of  righteousness,  and  demon- 
strates the  Principle  of  life  eternal;  even  the  Life  that 
is  Soul  apart  from  the  so-called  life  of  matter  or  the 
material  senses. 

Death  alone  does  not  absolve  man  from  a  false  material 
sense  of  life,  but  goodness,  holiness,  and  love  do  this,  and 
so  consummate  man's  being  with  the  harmony  of  heaven; 
the  omnipotence,  omnipresence,  and  omniscience  of  Life, 
even  its  all-power,  all-presence,  all-Science. 

Dear  reader,  right  thinking,  right  feeling,  and  right 
acting  —  honesty,  purity,  unselfishness  —  in  youth  tend 
to  success,  intellectuality,  and  happiness  in  manhood. 
To  begin  rightly  enables  one  to  end  rightly,  and  thus  it  is 
that  one  achieves  the  Science  of  Life,  demonstrates  health, 
holiness,  and  immortality. 

[Boston  Herald,  April,  1908] 

Mrs.  Eddy  Sends  Thanks 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy  has  sent  the  following  to  the 
Herald :  — 

Will  the  dear  Christian  Scientists  accept  my  thanks 
for  their  magnificent  gifts,  and  allow  me  to  say  that  I  am 
not  fond  of  an  abundance  of  material  presents;  but  I 
am  cheered  and  blessed  when  beholding  Christian  healing, 
unity  among  brethren,  and  love  to  God  and  man;  this 
is  my  crown  of  rejoicing,  for  it  demonstrates  Christian 
Science. 

The  Psalmist  sang,  "That  thy  way  may  be  known 
upon  earth,  thy  saving  health  among  all  nations. " 


MRS.   EDDY'S  OWN   DENIAL  275 

[Minneapolis  (IVIinn.)  News] 

Universal  Fellowship 

Christian  Science  can  and  does  produce  universal 
fellowship.  As  the  sequence  of  divine  Love  it  explains 
love,  it  lives  love,  it  demonstrates  love.  The  human, 
material,  so-called  senses  do  not  perceive  this  fact  until 
they  are  controlled  by  divine  Love;  hence  the  Scripture, 
"Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God." 

Brookline,  Mass., 
May  1,  1908. 

[New  York  Herald] 
Mrs.  Eddy's  Own  Denial  that  She  is  III 

Permit  me  to  say,  the  report  that  I  am  sick  (and  I 
trust  the  desire  thereof)  is  dead,  and  should  be  buried. 
Whereas  the  fact  that  I  am  well  and  keenly  alive  to  the 
truth  of  being — the  Love  that  is  Life — is  sure  and  stead- 
fast. I  go  out  in  my  carriage  daily,  and  have  omitted 
my  drive  but .  twice  since  I  came  to  Massachusetts. 
Either  my  work,  the  demands  upon  my  time  at  home,  or 
the  weather,  is  all  that  prevents  my  daily  drive. 

Working  and  praying  for  my  dear  friends'  and  my  dear 
enemies'  health,  happiness,  and  hohness,  the  true  sense 
of  being  goes  on. 

Doing  unto  others  as  we  would  that  they  do  by  us,  is 
immortality's  self.  Intrepid,  self-oblivious  love  fulfils  the 
law  and  is  self-sustaining  and  eternal.  With  white-winged 
charity  brooding  over  all,  spiritually  understood  and  de- 
monstrated, let  us  unite  in  one  Te  Deum  of  praise. 

Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
May  Iq,  1908. 


276  MISCELLANY 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  May  16,  1908] 

To  Whom  It  May  Concern 

Since  Mrs.  Eddy  is  watched,  as  one  watches  a  criminal 
or  a  sick  person,  she  begs  to  say,  in  her  own  behalf,  that 
she  is  neither;  therefore  to  be  criticized  or  judged  by 
either  a  daily  drive  or  a  dignified  stay  at  home,  is  super- 
fluous. When  accumulating  work  requires  it,  or  because 
of  a  preference  to  remain  within  doors  she  omits  her 
drive,  do  not  strain  at  gnats  or  swallow  camels  over 
it,  but  try  to  be  composed  and  resigned  to  the  shock- 
ing fact  that  she  is  minding  her  own  business,  and  rec- 
ommends this  surprising  privilege  to  all  her  dear  friends 

and  enemies.  ,^         t^  -n 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

[Boston  Post,  November,  1908] 
Politics 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy  has  always  believed  that  those 
who  are  entitled  to  vote  should  do  so,  and  she  has  also 
believed  that  in  such  matters  no  one  should  seek  to  dictate 
the  actions  of  others. 

In  reply  to  a  number  of  requests  for  an  expression  of 
her  political  views,  she  has  given  out  this  statement :  — 

I  am  asked,  "  What  are  your  politics?  "  I  have  none,  in 
reality,  other  than  to  help  support  a  righteous  government; 
to  love  God  supremely,  and  my  neighbor  as  myself. 


CHAPTER  XV 

PEACE   AND   WAR 

[Boston  Herald,  March,  1898] 
Other  Ways  th^^n  by  War 

IN  reply  to  your  question,  "Should  difficulties  between 
the  United  States  and  Spain  be  settled  peacefully  by 
statesmanship  and  diplomacy,  in  a  way  honorable  and 
satisfactory  to  both  nations?"  I  will  say  I  can  see  no 
other  way  of  settling  difficulties  between  individuals  and 
nations  than  by  means  of  their  wholesome  tribunals, 
equitable  laws,  and  sound,  well-kept  treaties. 

A  bullet  in  a  man's  heart  never  settles  the  question  of 
his  life.  The  mental  animus  goes  on,  and  urges  that  the 
answer  to  the  sublime  question  as  to  man's  life  shall  come 
from  God  and  that  its  adjustment  shall  be  according  to 
His  laws.  The  characters  and  lives  of  men  determine  the 
peace,  prosperity,  and  life  of  nations.  Killing  men  is 
not  consonant  with  the  higher  law  whereby  wrong  and 
injustice  are  righted  and  exterminated. 

Whatever  weighs  in  the  eternal  scale  of  equity  and 
mercy  tips  the  beam  on  the  right  side,  where  the  immortal 
words  and  deeds  of  men  alone  can  settle  all  questions 
amicably  and  satisfactorily.  But  if  our  nation's  rights  or 
honor  were  seized,  every  citizen  would  be  a  soldier  and 
woman  would  be  armed  with  power  girt  for  the  hour. 

277 


278  MISCELLANY 

To  coincide  with  God's  government  is  the  proper  in- 
centive to  the  action  of  all  nations.  If  His  purpose  for 
peace  is  to  be  subserved  by  the  battle's  plan  or  by  the 
intervention  of  the  United  States,  so  that  the  Cubans 
may  learn  to  make  war  no  more,  this  means  and  end 
will  be  accomplished. 

The  government  of  divine  Love  is  supreme.  Love  rules 
the  universe,  and  its  edict  hath  gone  forth:  "Thou  shalt 
have  no  other  gods  before  me,"  and  "Love  thy  neighbor 
as  thyself."  Let  us  have  the  molecule  of  faith  that 
removes  mountains,  —  faith  armed  with  the  understand- 
ing of  Love,  as  in  divine  Science,  where  right  reigneth. 
The  revered  President  and  Congress  of  our  favored  land 
are  in  God's  hands. 

[Boston  Globe,  December,   1904] 

How  Stripe  may  be  Stilled 

Follow  that  which  is  good. 

A  Japanese  may  believe  in  a  heaven  for  him  who  dies 
in  defence  of  his  country,  but  the  steadying,  elevating 
power  of  civilization  destroys  such  illusions  and  should 
overcome  evil  with  good. 

Nothing  is  gained  by  fighting,  but  much  is  lost. 

Peace  is  the  promise  and  reward  of  rightness.  Gov- 
ernments have  no  right  to  engraft  into  civilization  the 
burlesque  of  uncivil  economics.  War  is  in  itself  an  evil, 
barbarous,  devilish.  Victory  in  error  is  defeat  in  Truth. 
War  is  not  in  the  domain  of  good;  war  weakens  power 
and  must  finally  fall,  pierced  by  its  own  sword. 

The  Principle  of  all  power  is  God,  and  God  is  Love. 
W^hatever  brings  into  human  thought  or  action  an  ele- 


THE  PRAYER  FOR  PEACE      279 

ment  opposed  to  I^ve,  is  never  requisite,  never  a  neces- 
sity, and  is  not  sanctioned  by  the  law  of  God,  the  law 
of  Love.  The  Founder  of  Christianity  said:  "My 
peace  I  give  unto  you:  not  as  the  world  giveth,  give 
I  unto  you." 

Christian  Science  reinforces  Christ's  savings  and  doings. 
The  Principle  of  Christian  Science  demonstrates  peace. 
Christianity  is  the  chain  of  scientific  being  reappearing  in 
all  ages,  maintaining  its  obvious  correspondence  with  the 
Scriptures  and  uniting  all  periods  in  the  design  of  God. 
The  First  Commandment  in  the  Hebrew  Decalogue  — 
"Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me" — obeyed, 
is  sufficient  to  still  all  strife.  God  is  the  divine  ^Slind. 
Hence  the  sequence:  Had  all  peoples  one  Mind,  peace 
would  reign. 

God  is  Father,  infinite,  and  this  great  tuuth,  when 
understood  in  its  divine  metaphysics,  will  establish  the 
brotherhood  of  man,  end  wars,  and  demonstrate  "on 
earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men." 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  June  17,  1905] 

The  Prayer  for  Peace 

Dearly  Beloved :  —  I  request  that  every  member  of  The 
^Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston,  pray  each 
day  for  the  amicable  settlement  of  the  war  between 
Russia  and  Japan;  and  pray  that  God  bless  that  great 
nation  and  those  islands  of  the  sea  with  peace  and 
prosperity. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N,  H., 
June  13,  1905. 


280  MISCELLANY 

Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H. 

Beloved  Leader:  —  We  acknowledge  with  rejoicing  the 

receipt  of  your  message,  which  again  gives  assurance  of 

your  watchful  care  and  guidance  in  our  behalf  and  of  your 

loving  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  the  nations  and  the 

peaceful  tranquillity  of  the  race.     We  rejoice  also  in  this 

new  reminder  from  you  that  all  the  things  which  make  for 

the  establishment  of  a  universal,  loving  brotherhood  on 

earth  may  be  accomplished  through  the  righteous  prayer 

which  availeth  much.       ,,^  ^    ^  ^,    , 

William  B.  Johnson,  Clerk. 

Boston,  Mass.,  June  13,  1905. 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  July  1,  1905] 

"Hear,  O  Israel:   The  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord" 

I  now  request  that  the  members  of  my  church  cease 
special  prayer  for  the  peace  of  nations,  and  cease  in  full 
faith  that  God  does  not  hear  our  prayers  only  because  of 
oft  speaking,  but  that  He  will  bless  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  earth,  and  none  can  stay  His  hand  nor  say  unto 
Him,  What  doest  Thou?  Out  of  His  allness  He  must 
bless  all  with  His  own  truth  and  love. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
June  27,  1905. 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  July  22,  1905] 

An  Explanation 

In  no  way  nor  manner  did  I  request  my  church  to  cease 
praying  for  the  peace  of  nations,  but  simply  to  pause  in 
special  prayer  for  peace.    And  why  this  asking?    Because 


PRACTISE  THE  GOLDEN  RULE  281 

a  spiritual  foresight  of  the  nations'  drama  presented 
itself  and  awakened  a  wiser  want,  even  to  know  how 
to  pray  other  than  the  daily  prayer  of  my  church,  — 
"Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done  in  earth,  as  it 
is  in  heaven." 

I  cited,  as  our  present  need,  faith  in  God's  disposal  of 
events.  Faith  full-fledged,  soaring  to  the  Horeb  height, 
brings  blessings  infinite,  and  the  spirit  of  this  orison  is  the 
fruit  of  rightness,  —  "  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward 
men."  On  this  basis  the  brotherhood  of  all  peoples  is 
established ;  namely,  one  God,  one  Mind,  and  "  Love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself,"  the  basis  on  which  and  by  which 
the  infinite  God,  good,  the  Father-Mother  Love,  is  ours 
and  we  are  His  in  divine  Science. 

[Boston  Globe,  August,  1905] 
Practise  the  Golden  Rule 

[Telegram] 

"Official  announcement  of  peace  between  Russia  and 
Japan  seems  to  offer  an  appropriate  occasion  for  the  ex- 
pression of  congratulations  and  views  by  representative 
persons.  Will  you  do  us  the  kindness  to  wire  a  sentiment 
on  some  phase  of  the  subject,  on  the  ending  of  the  war, 
the  effect  on  the  two  parties  to  the  treaty  of  Portsmouth, 
the  influence  which  President  Roosevelt  has  exerted  for 
peace,  or  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  arbitration." 

MRS.    eddy's    reply 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Globe  : 

War  will  end  when  nations  are  ripe  for  progress.  The 
treaty  of  Portsmouth  is  not  an  executive  power,  although 


282  MISCELLANY 

its  purpose  is  good  will  towards  men.     The  goNTrnment  of 
a  nation  is  its  peace  maker  or  breaker. 

I  believe  strictly  in  the  Monroe  doctrine,  in  our  Con- 
stitution, and  in  the  laws  of  God.  While  I  admire  the 
faith  and  friendship  of  our  chief  executive  in  and  for  all 
nations,  my  hope  must  still  rest  in  God,  and  the  Scrip- 
tural injunction,  —  "  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all 
the  ends  of  the  earth." 

The  Douma  recently  adopted  in  Russia  is  no  uncer- 
tain ray  of  dawn.  Through  the  wholesome  chastise- 
ments of  Love,  nations  are  helped  onward  towards 
justice,  righteousness,  and  peace,  which  are  the  land- 
marks of  prosperity.  In  order  to  apprehend  more, 
we  must  practise  what  we  already  know  of  the  Golden 
Rule,  which  is  to  all  mankind  a  light  emitting  light. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


Mrs.  Eddy  and  the  Peace  Movement 

Mr.  Hayne  Davis,  American  Secretary, 
International  Conciliation  Committee, 
542  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City. 

Dear  Mr.  Davis :  —  Deeply  do  I  thank  you  for  the 
interest  you  manifest  in  the  success  of  the  Association 
for  International  Conciliation.  It  is  of  paramount  im- 
portance to  every  son  and  daughter  of  all  nations  under 
the  sunlight  of  the  law  and  gospel. 
May  God  guide  and  prosper  ever  this  good  endeavor. 

Most  truly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
AprU  3,  1907. 


APPOINTMENT  AS  FONDATEUR  283 

Mrs.    Eddy's    Acknowledgment  of   Appointment 

as  fondateur  of  the  association  for 

International  Conciliation 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City, 
Mr.  John  D.  Higgins,  Clerk, 

My  Beloved  Brethren :  —  Your  appointment  of  me  as 
Fondateur  of  the  Association  for  International  Concilia- 
tion is  most  gracious. 

To  aid  in  this  holy  purpose  is  the  leading  impetus  of 
my  life.  Many  years  have  I  prayed  and  labored  for  the 
consummation  of  "on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward 
men."  May  the  fruits  of  said  grand  Association,  preg- 
nant with  peace,  find  their  birthright  in  divine  Science. 

Right  thoughts  and  deeds  are  the  sovereign  remedies 
for  all  earth's  woe.  Sin  is  its  own  enemy.  Right  has  its 
recompense,  even  though  it  be  betrayed.  Wrong  may  be 
a  man's  highest  idea  of  right  until  his  grasp  of  goodness 
grows  stronger.     It  is  always  safe  to  be  just. 

When  pride,  self,  and  human  reason  reign,  injustice  is 
rampant. 

Individuals,  as  nations,  unite  harmoniously  on  the  basis 
of  justice,  and  this  is  accomplished  when  self  is  lost  in 
Love  —  or  God's  own  plan  of  salvation.  "To  do  justly, 
and  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly"  is  the  stand- 
ard of  Christian  Science. 

Human  law  is  right  only  as  it  patterns  the  divine. 
Consolation  and  peace  are  based  on  the  enlightened  sense 
of  God's  government. 

Lured  by  fame,  pride,  or  gold,  success  is  danger- 
ous, but  the  choice  of  folly  never  fastens  on  the  good 


284  MISCELLANY 

or  the  great.  Because  of  my  rediscovery  of  Chris- 
tian Science,  and  honest  efforts  (however  meagre) 
to  help  human  purpose  and  peoples,  you  may  have 
accorded  me  more  than  is  deserved,  —  but  'tis  sweet 
to  be  remembered. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
April  22,  1907. 

[Concord  (N.  H.)  Daily  Patriot] 
A  Correction 

Dear  Editor :  —  In  the  issue  of  your  good  paper,  the 
Patriot,  May  21,  when  referring  to  the  Memorial  service 
of  the  E.  E.  Sturtevant  Post  held  in  my  church  building, 
it  read,  "It  is  said  to  be  the  iBrst  time  in  the  history  of 
the  church  in  this  country  that  such  an  event  has  oc- 
curred." In  your  next  issue  please  correct  this  mistake. 
Since  my  residence  in  Concord,  1889,  the  aforesaid 
Memorial  service  has  been  held  annually  in  some  church 
in  Concord,  N.  H. 

When  the  Veterans  indicated  their  desire  to  assemble 
in  my  church  building,  I  consented  thereto  only  as  other 
churches  had  done.  But  here  let  me  say  that  I  am 
absolutely  and  religiously  opposed  to  war,  whereas  I  do 
believe  implicitly  in  the  full  efficacy  of  divine  Love  to 
conciliate  by  arbitration  all  quarrels  between  nations 
and  peoples. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
May  28,  1907. 


TO  A  STUDENT  285 

To  A  Student 

Dear  Student :  —  Please  accept  my  thanks  for  your 
kind  invitation,  on  behalf  of  the  Civic  League  of  San 
Francisco,  to  attend  the  Industrial  Peace  Conference, 
and  accept  my  hearty  congratulations. 

I  cannot  spare  the  time  requisite  to  meet  with  you; 
but  I  rejoice  with  you  in  all  your  wise  endeavors  for 
industrial,  civic,  and  national  peace.  \Vhatever  adorns 
Christianity  crowns  the  great  purposes  of  life  and  demon- 
strates the  Science  of  being.  Bloodshed,  war,  and  op- 
pression belong  to  the  darker  ages,  and  shall  be  relegated 
to  oblivion. 

It  is  a  matter  for  rejoicing  that  the  best,  bravest,  most 
cultured  men  and  women  of  this  period  unite  with  us  in 
the  grand  object  embodied  in  the  Association  for  Inter- 
national Conciliation. 

In  Revelation  2:26,  St.  John  says:  "And  he  that 
overcometh,  and  keepeth  my  works  unto  the  end,  to 
him  will  I  give  power  over  the  nations."  In  the  words 
of  St.  Paul,  I  repeat:  — 

"And  they  neither  found  me  in  the  temple  disputing 
with  any  man,  neither  raising  up  the  people,  neither 
in  the  synagogues,  nor  in  the  city:  neither  can  they 
prove  the  things  whereof  they  now  accuse  me.  But 
this  I  confess  unto  thee,  that  after  the  way  which 
they  call  heresy,  so  worship  I  the  God  of  my  fathers, 
believing  all  things  which  are  written  in  the  law  and  in 
the  prophets." 

Most  sincerely  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord^  N.  H. 


286  MISq^LLANY 

[The  Christian  Science  Journal,  May,  1908] 

War 

For  many  years  I  have  prayed  daily  that  there  be 
no  more  war,  no  more  barbarous  slaughtering  of  our 
fellow-beings;  prayed  that  all  the  peoples  on  earth  and 
the  islands  of  the  sea  have  one  God,  one  Mind;  love 
God  supremely,  and  love  their  neighbor  as  themselves. 

National  disagreements  can  be,  and  should  be,  arbi- 
trated wisely,  fairly;  and  fully  settled. 

It  is  unquestionable,  however,  that  at  this  hour 
the  armament  of  navies  is  necessary,  for  the  purpose 
of  preventing  war  and  preserving  peace  among  nations. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

TRIBUTES 

[New  York  Mail  and  Express] 

Monument  to  Baron  and  Baroness  de  Hirsch 

THE  movement  to  erect  a  monument  to  the  late 
Baron  and  Baroness  de  Hirsch  enhsts  my  hearty 
sjTnpathy.  They  were  unquestionably  used  in  a  re- 
markable degree  as  instruments  of  divine  Love. 

Divine  Love  reforms,  regenerates,  giving  to  human 
weakness  strength,  serving  as  admonition,  instruction,  and 
governing  all  that  really  is.  Divine  Love  is  the  noumenon 
and  phenomenon,  the  Principle  and  practice  of  divine 
metaphysics.  Love  talked  and  not  lived  is  a  poor  shift 
for  the  weak  and  worldly.  Love  lived  in  a  court  or  cot 
is  God  exemplified,  governing  governments,  industries, 
human  rights,  liberty,  life. 

In  love  for  man  we  gain  the  only  and  true  sense  of  love 
for  God,  practical  good,  and  so  rise  and  still  rise  to  His 
image  and  likeness,  and  are  made  partakers  of  that  Mind 
whence  sprir^gs  the  universe. 

Philanthropy  is  loving,  ameliorative,  revolutionary;  it 
wakens  lofty  desires,  new  possibilities,  achievements,  and 
energies;  it  lays  the  axe  at  the  root  of  the  tree  that 
bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit;  it  touches  thought  to 
spiritual  issues,  systematizes  action,  and  insures  success; 

287 


288  MISCELLANY 

« 

it  starts  the  wheels  of  right  reason,  revelation,  justice,  and 
mercy;  it  unselfs  men  and  pushes  on  the  ages.  Love 
unfolds  marvellous  good  and  uncovers  hidden  evil.  The 
philanthropist  or  reformer  gives  little  thought  to  self- 
defence;  his  life's  incentive  and  sacrifice  need  no  apology. 
The  good  done  and  the  good  to  do  are  his  ever-present 
reward. 

Love  for  mankind  is  the  elevator  of  the  human  race; 
it  demonstrates  Truth  and  reflects  divine  Love.  Good  is 
divinely  natural.  Evil  is  unnatural;  it  has  no  origin  in 
the  nature  of  God,  and  He  is  the  Father  of  all. 

The  great  Galilean  Prophet  was,  is,  the  reformer  of  re- 
formers. His  piety  partook  not  of  the  travesties  of  human 
opinions,  pagan  mysticisms,  tribal  religion,  Greek  phi- 
losophy, creed,  dogma,  or  materia  Tnedica.  The  divine 
Mind  was  his  only  instrumentality  in  religion  or  medi- 
cine. The  so-called  laws  of  matter  he  eschewed;  with 
him  matter  was  not  the  auxiliary  of  Spirit.  He  never 
appealed  to  matter  to  perform  the  functions  of  Spirit, 
divine  Love. 

Jesus  cast  out  evil,  disease,  death,  showing  that  all 
suffering  is  commensurate  with  sin;  therefore,  he  cast 
out  devils  and  healed  the  sick.  He  showed  that  every 
effect  or  amplification  of  wrong  will  revert  to  the  wrong- 
doer; that  sin  punishes  itself;  hence  his  saying,  "Sin 
no  more,  lest  a  worse  thing  come  unto  thee."  Love 
atones  for  sin  through  love  that  destroys  sin.  His  rod 
is  love. 

We  cannot  remake  ourselves,  but  we  can  make  the 
best  of  what  God  has  made.  We  can  know  that  all  is 
good  because  God  made  all,  and  that  evil  is  not  a 
fatherly  grace. 


TRIBUTES  TO  QUEEN  VICTORIA         289 

All  education  is  work.  The  thing  most  important  is 
what  we  do,  not  what  we  say.  God's  open  secret  is  seen 
through  grace,  truth,  and  love. 

I  enclose  a  check  for  five  hundred  dollars  for  the 
De  Hirsch  monument  fund. 


Tributes  to  Queen  Victoria 
Mk.  William  B.  Johnson,  C.S.B.,  Clerk. 

Beloved  Student :  —  I  deem  it  proper  that  The  Mother 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  the 
first  church  of  Christian  Science  known  on  earth,  should 
upon  this  solemn  occasion  congregate;  that  a  special  meet- 
ing of  its  First  ]\Iembers  convene  for  the  sacred  purpose  of 
expressing  our  deep  sympathy  with  the  bereaved  nation, 
its  loss  and  the  world's  loss,  in  the  sudden  departure  of 
the  late  lamented  Victoria,  Queen  of  Great  Britain  and 
Empress  of  India,  —  long  honored,  revered,  beloyed. 
"God  save  the  Queen"  is  heard  no  more  in  England,  but 
this  shout  of  love  lives  on  in  the  heart  of  millions. 

With  love, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
January  27,  1901. 

It  being  inconvenient  for  me  to  attend  the  memorial 
meeting  in  the  South  Congregational  church  on  Sunday 
evening,  February  3, 1  herewith  send  a  few  words  of  con- 
dolence, which  may  be  read  on  that  tender  occasion. 

I  am  interested  in  a  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  capi- 
tal of  my  native  State  in  memoriam  of  the  late  lamented 
Victoria,  Queen  of  Great  Britain  and  Empress  of  India. 


290  MISCELLANY 

It  betokens  a  love  and  a  loss  felt  by  the  strong  hearts 
of  New  England  and  the  United  States.  When  contem- 
plating this  sudden  international  bereavement,  the  near 
seems  afar,  the  distant  nigh,  and  the  tried  and  true  seem 
few.  The  departed  Queen's  royal  and  imperial  honors 
lose  their  lustre  in  the  tomb,  but  her  personal  virtues  can 
never  be  lost.     Those  live  on  in  the  affection  of  nations. 

Few  sovereigns  have  been  as  venerable,  revered,  and 
beloved  as  this  noble  woman,  born  in  1819,  married  in 
1840,  and  deceased  the  first  month  of  the  new  century. 

Letter  to  Mrs.  McKinley 

My  Dear  Mrs.  McKinley: — My  soul  reaches  out  to  God 
for  your  support,  consolation,  and  victory.  Trust  in  Him 
whose  love  enfolds  thee.  "  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect 
peace,  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  Thee:  because  he  trusteth 
in  Thee."  "Out  of  the  depths  have  I  cried  unto  Thee." 
Divine  Love  is  never  so  near  as  when  all  earthly  joys  seem 
most  afar. 

Thy  tender  husband,  our  nation's  chief  magistrate,  has 
passed  earth's  shadow  into  Life's  substance.  Through 
a  momentary  mist  he  beheld  the  dawn.  He  awaits  to 
welcome  jou  where  no  arrow  wounds  the  eagle  soaring, 
where  no  partings  are  for  love,  where  the  high  and  holy 
call  you  again  to  meet. 

"  I  knew  that  Thou  hearest  me  always,"  are  the  words  of 
him  who  suffered  and  subdued  sorrow.  Hold  this  attitude 
of  mind,  and  it  will  remove  the  sackcloth  from  thy  home. 

With  love, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
September  14,  1901. 


TRIBUTE  TO  PRESIDENT  McKINLEY     291 

Tribute  to  President  McKinley 

Imperative,  accumulative,  holy  demands  rested  on  the 
life  and  labors  of  our  late  beloved  President,  William 
McKinley.  Presiding  over-  the  destinies  of  a  nation 
meant  more  to  him  than  a  mere  rehearsal  of  aphorisms, 
a  uniting  of  breaches  soon  to  widen,  a  quiet  assent  or  dis- 
sent. His  work  began  with  heavy  strokes,  measured 
movements,  reaching  from  the  infinitesimal  to  the 
infinite.  It  began  by  warming  the  marble  of  politics 
into  zeal  according  to  wisdom,  quenching  the  vol- 
canoes of  partizanship,  and  uniting  the  interests  of  all 
peoples;  and  it  ended  with  a  universal  good  overcoming 
evil. 

His  home  relations  enfolded  a  wealth  of  affection,  —  a 
tenderness  not  talked  but  felt  and  lived.  His  humanity, 
weighed  in  the  scales  of  divinity,  was  not  found  wanting. 
His  public  intent  was  uniform,  consistent,  sympathetic, 
and  so  far  as  it  fathomed  the  abyss  of  difficulties  was 
wise,  brave,  unselfed.  IVIay  his  history  waken  a  tone 
of  truth  that  shall  reverberate,  renew  euphony,  empha- 
size humane  power,  and  bear  its  banner  into  the  vast 
forever. 

While  our  nation's  ensign  of  peace  and  prosperity 
waves  over  land  and  sea,  while  her  reapers  are  strong, 
her  sheaves  garnered,  her  treasury  filled,  she  is  suddenly 
stricken,  —  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  her  renowned 
leader!  Tears  blend  with  her  triumphs.  She  stops  to 
think,  to  mourn,  yea,  to  pray,  that  the  God  of  harvests 
send  her  more  laborers,  who,  while  they  work  for  their 
own  country,  shall  sacredly  regard  the  liberty  of  other 
peoples  and  the  rights  of  man. 


292  MISCELLANY 

What  cannot  love  and  righteousness  achieve  for  the 
race?  All  that  can  be  accomplished,  and  more  than  his- 
tory has  yet  recorded.  All  good  that  ever  was  written, 
taught,  or  wrought  comes  from  God  and  human  faith  in 
the  right.  Through  divine  Love  the  right  government  is 
assimilated,  the  way  pointed  out,  the  process  shortened, 
and  the  joy  of  acquiescence  consummated.  May  God 
sanctify  our  nation's  sorrow  in  this  wise,  and  His  rod 
and  His  staff  comfort  the  living  as  it  did  the  departing. 
O  may  His  love  shield,  support,  and  comfort  the  chief 
mourner  at  the  desolate  home ! 

Power  of  Prayer 

My  answer  to  the  inquiry,  "  Why  did  Christians  of  every 
sect  in  the  United  States  fail  in  their  prayers  to  save 
the  life  of  President  McKinley,"  is  briefly  this:  Insuffi- 
cient faith  or  spiritual  understanding,  and  a  compound  of 
prayers  in  which  one  earnest,  tender  desire  works  uncon- 
sciously against  the  modus  operandi  of  another,  would 
prevent  the  result  desired.  In  the  June,  1901,  Message 
to  my  church  in  Boston,  I  refer  to  the  effect  of  one 
human  desire  or  belief  unwittingly  neutralizing  another, 
though  both  are  equally  sincere. 

In  the  practice  of  materia  medica,  croton  oil  is  not  mixed 
with  morphine  to  remedy  dysentery,  for  those  drugs  are 
supposed  to  possess  opposite  qualities  and  so  to  produce 
opposite  effects.  The  spirit  of  the  prayer  of  the  righteous 
heals  the  sick,  but  this  spirit  is  of  God,  and  the  divine 
Mind  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever;  where- 
as the  human  mind  is  a  compound  of  faith  and  doubt, 
of  fear  and  hope,  of  faith  in  truth  and  faith  in  error. 


POWER  OF  PRAYER  293 

The  knowledge  that  all  things  are  possible  to  God  ex- 
cludes doubt,  but  differing  human  concepts  as  to  the 
divine  power  and  purpose  of  infinite  Mind,  and  the  so- 
called  power  of  matter,  act  as  the  different  properties  of 
drugs  are  supposed  to  act  —  one  against  the  other  —  and 
this  compound  of  mind  and  matter  neutrahzes  itself. 

Our  lamented  President,  in  his  loving  acquiescence, 
believed  that  his  martyrdom  was  God's  way.  Hun- 
dreds, thousands  of  others  believed  the  same,  and  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  who  prayed  for  him  feared  that  the 
bullet  would  prove  fatal.  Even  the  physicians  may  have 
feared  this. 

These  conflicting  states  of  the  human  mind,  of  trembling 
faith,  hope,  and  of  fear,  evinced  a  lack  of  the  absolute 
understanding  of  God's  omnipotence,  and  thus  they  pre- 
vented the  power  of  absolute  Truth  from  reassuring  the 
mind  and  through  the  mind  resuscitating  the  body  of 
the  patient. 

The  divine  power  and  poor  human  sense — yea,  the  spirit 
and  the  flesh — struggled,  and  to  mortal  sense  the  flesh  pre- 
vailed. Had  prayer  so  fervently  offered  possessed  no 
opposing  element,  and  President  McKinley's  recovery 
been  regarded  as  wholly  contingent  on  the  power  of  God, 
—  on  the  power  of  divine  Love  to  overrule  the  pur- 
poses of  hate  and  the  law  of  Spirit  to  control  matter,  — 
the  result  would  have  been  scientific,  and  the  patient 
would  have  recovered. 

St.  Paul  writes:  "For  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  Hfe  in 
Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and 
death."  And  the  Saviour  of  man  saith:  "What  things 
soever  ye  desire,  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive 
them,  and  ye  shall  have  them."    Human  governments 


294  MISCELLANY 

maintain  the  right  of  the  majority  to  rule.  Christian 
Scientists  are  yet  in  a  large  minority  on  the  subject  of 
divine  metaphysics;  but  they  improve  the  morals  and  the 
lives  of  men,  and  they  heal  the  sick  on  the  basis  that  God 
has  all  power,  is  omnipotent,  omniscient,  omnipresent, 
supreme  over  all. 

In  a  certain  city  the  Master  "did  not  many  mighty 
works  there  because  of  their  unbelief,"  —  because  of  the 
mental  counteracting  elements,  the  startled  or  the  un- 
righteous contradicting  minds  of  mortals.  And  if  he  were 
personally  with  us  to-day,  he  would  rebuke  whatever 
accords  not  with  a  full  faith  and  spiritual  knowledge  of 
God.  He  would  mightily  rebuke  a  single  doubt  of  the 
ever-present  power  of  divine  Spirit  to  control  all  the  con- 
ditions of  man  and  the  univ'erse. 

If  the  skilful  surgeon  or  the  faithful  M.D.  is  not  dis- 
mayed by  a  fruitless  use  of  the  knife  or  the  drug,  has  not 
the  Christian  Scientist  with  his  conscious  understanding 
of  omnipotence,  in  spite  of  the  constant  stress  of  the 
hindrances  previously  mentioned,  reason  for  his  faith  in 
what  is  shown  him  by  God's  works? 

On  the  Death  of  Pope  Leo  XIIL,  July  20,  1903 

The  sad,  sudden  announcement  of  the  decease  of  Pope 
Leo  XIIL,  touches  the  heart  and  will  move  the  pen  of 
millions.  The  intellectual,  moral,  and  religious  energy 
of  this  illustrious  pontiff  have  animated  the  Church  of 
Rome  for  one  quarter  of  a  century.  The  august  ruler 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  million  human  beings  has  now 
passed  through  the  shadow  of  death  into  the  great  forever. 
The  court  of  the  Vatican  mourns  him;  his  relatives 
shed  "the  unavailing  tear."     He  is  the  loved  and  lost 


A  BENEDICTION  295 

of  many  millions.  I  sympathize  with  those  who  mourn, 
but  rejoice  in  knowing  our  dear  God  comforts  such  with 
the  blessed  assurance  that  life  is  not  lost;  its  influence 
remains  in  the  minds  o  men,  and  divine  Love  holds 
its  substance  safe  in  the  certainty  of  immortality. 
"In  Him  was  life;  and  the  life  was  the  light  of  men." 
(John  1:4.) 

A  Tribute  to  the  Bible 

Letter  of  Thanks  for  the  Gift  of  a  Coi'y  of  Martin  Luther's 
Translation  into  German  of  the  Bible,  printed  in  Nurem- 
berg IN  1733 

Dear  Student :  —  I  am  in  grateful  receipt  of  your  time- 
worn  Bible  in  German.  This  Book  of  books  is  also  the 
gift  of  gifts;  and  kindness  in  its  largest,  profoundest 
sense  is  goodness.  It  was  kind  of  you  to  give  it  to  me. 
I  thank  you  for  it. 

Christian  Scientists  are  fishers  of  men.  The  Bible  is 
our  sea-beaten  rock.  It  guides  the  fishermen.  It  stands 
the  storm.  It  engages  the  attention  and  enriches  the 
being  of  all  men. 

A  Benediction 

[Copy  of  Cablegram] 

Countess  of  Dunmore  and  Family, 

55  Lancaster  Gate,  West,  London,  England. 

Divine  Love  is  your  ever-present  help.  You,  I,  and 
mankind  have  cause  to  lament  the  demise  of  Lord  Dun- 
more;  but  as  the  Christian  Scientist,  the  servant  of  God 
and  man,  he  still  lives,  loves,  labors. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
August  31,  1907. 


296  MISCELLANY 

Hon.  Clarence  A.  Buskirk's  Lecture 

The  able  discourse  of  our  "learned  judge,"  his  flash  of 
flight  and  insight,  lays  the  axe  "unto  the  root  of  the 
trees,"   and   shatters  whatever  hinders  the  Science  of 

^^^"^'  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
October  14,  1907. 

"Hear,  O  Israel" 

The  late  lamented  Christian  Scientist  brother  and  the 
publisher  of  my  books,  Joseph  Armstrong,  C.S.D.,  is  not 
dead,  neither  does  he  sleep  nor  rest  from  his  labors  in 
divine  Science;  and  his  works  do  follow  him.  Evil  has  no 
power  to  harm,  to  hinder,  or  to  destroy  the  real  spiritual 
man.  He  is  wiser  to-day,  healthier  and  happier,  than 
yesterday.  The  mortal  dream  of  life,  substance,  or  mind 
in  matter,  has  been  lessened,  and  the  reward  of  good 
and  punishment  of  evil  and  the  waking  out  of  his  Adam- 
dream  of  evil  will  end  in  harmony,  —  evil  powerless,  and 
God,  good,  omnipotent  and  infinite. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
December  10,  1907. 

Miss  Clara  Barton 

In  the  New  York  American,  January  6,  1908,  Miss 
Clara  Barton  dipped  her  pen  in  my  heart,  and  traced  its 
emotions,  motives,  and  object.  Then,  lifting  the  curtains 
of  mortal  mind,  she  depicted  its  rooms,  guests,  standing 
and  seating  capacity,  and  thereafter  gave  her  discovery 


MRS.  EDDY'S  HISTORY  297 

to  the  press.  Now  if  Miss  Barton  were  not  a  venerable 
soldier,  patriot,  philanthropist,  moralist,  and  states- 
woman,  I  should  shrink  from  such  salient  praise.  But 
in  consideration  of  all  that  Miss  Barton  really  is, 
and  knowing  that  she  can  bear  the  blows  which  may 
follow  said  description  of  her  soul-visit,  I  will  say.  Amen, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
January  10,  1908. 

There  is  No  Death 

A  suppositional  gust  of  evil  in  this  evil  world  is  the 
dark  hour  that  precedes  the  dawn.  This  gust  blows 
away  the  baubles  of  belief,  for  there  is  in  reality  no  evil, 
no  disease,  no  death;  and  the  Christian  Scientist  who 
believes  that  he  dies,  gains  a  rich  blessing  of  disbelief  in 
death,  and  a  higher  realization  of  heaven. 

My  beloved  Edward  A.  Kimball,  whose  clear,  correct 
teaching  of  Christian  Science  has  been  and  is  an  inspira- 
tion to  the  whole  field,  is  here  now  as  veritably  as  when 
he  visited  me  a  year  ago.  If  we  would  awaken  to  this 
recognition,  we  should  see  him  here  and  realize  that  he 
never  died;    thus  demonstrating  the  fundamental  truth 

of  Christian  Science.  ,,         „  t^ 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  History 

I  have  not  had  sufficient  interest  in  the  matter  to  read 
or  to  note  from  others'  reading  what  the  enemies  of 
Christian  Science  are  said  to  be  circulating  regarding  my 
history,  but  my  friends  have  read  Sibyl  Wilbur's  book. 


298  MISCELLANY 

"  The  Life  of  Mary  Baker  Eddy,"  and  request  the  privi- 
lege of  buying,  circulating,  and  recommending  it  to  the 
public.  I  briefly  declare  that  nothing  has  occurred  in  my 
life's  experience  which,  if  correctly  narrated  and  under- 
stood, could  injure  me;  and  not  a  little  is  already  re- 
ported of  the  good  accomplished  therein,  the  self-sacrifice, 
etc.,  that  has  distinguished  all  my  working  years. 

I  thank  Miss  Wilbur  and  the  Concord  Pubhshing  Com- 
pany for  their  unselfed  labors  in  placing  this  book  before 
the  public,  and  hereby  say  that  they  have  my  permission 
to  publish  and  circulate  this  work. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

ANSWERS  TO  CRITICISMS 

[Letter  to  the  New  York  Commercial  Advertiser] 
Christian  Science  and  the  Church 

OVER  the  signature  "A  Priest  of  the  Church," 
somebody,  kindly  referring  to  my  address  to  First 
Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  writes: 
"If  they  [Christian  Scientists]  have  any  truth  to  reveal 
which  has  not  been  revealed  by  the  church  or  the  Bible, 
let  them  make  it  known  to  the  world,  before  they  claim 
the  allegiance  of  mankind." 

I  submit  that  Christian  Science  has  been  widely  made 
known  to  the  world,  and  that  it  contains  the  entire 
truth  of  the  Scriptures,  as  also  whatever  portions  of  truth 
may  be  found  in  creeds.  In  addition  to  this.  Christian 
Science  presents  the  demonstrable  divine  Principle  and 
rules  of  the  Bible,  hitherto  undiscovered  in  the  trans- 
lations of  the  Bible  and  lacking  in  the  creeds. 

Therefore  I  query:  Do  Christians,  who  believe  in  sin, 
and  especially  those  who  claim  to  pardon  sin,  believe 
that  God  is  good,  and  that  God  is  Allf  Christian 
Scientists  firmly  subscribe  to  this  statement;  yea,  they 
imderstand  it  and  the  law  governing  it,  namely,  that 
God,    the    divine    Principle    of    Christian    Science,    is 

299 


300  MISCELLANY 

"of  purer  eyes  than  to  behold  evil."  On  this  basis  they 
endeavor  to  cast  out  the  belief  in  sin  or  in  aught 
besides  God,  thus  enabling  the  sinner  to  overcome 
sin  according  to  the  Scripture,  "Work  out  your  own 
salvation  with  fear  and  trembling.  For  it  is  God  which 
worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good 
pleasure." 

Does  he  who  believes  in  sickness  know  or  declare  that 
there  is  no  sickness  or  disease,  and  thus  heal  disease? 
Christian  Scientists,  who  do  not  believe  in  the  reality 
of  disease,  heal  disease,  for  the  reason  that  the  divine 
Principle  of  Christian  Science,  demonstrated,  heals  the 
most  inveterate  diseases.  Does  he  who  believes  in 
death  understand  or  aver  that  there  is  no  death,  and 
proceed  to  overcome  "the  last  enemy"  and  raise  the 
dying  to  health?  Christian  Scientists  raise  the  dying  to 
health  in  Christ's  name,  and  are  striving  to  reach  the 
summit  of  Jesus'  words,  "If  a  man  keep  my  saying,  he 
shall  never  see  death." 

If,  as  this  kind  priest  claims,  these  things,  inseparable 
from  Christian  Science,  are  common  to  his  church,  we 
propose  that  he  make  known  his  doctrine  to  the  world, 
that  he  teach  the  Christianity  which  heals,  and  send  out 
students  according  to  Christ's  command,  "  Go  ye  into  all 
the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature," 
"Heal  the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the  dead,  cast 
out  devils." 

The  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit.  If,  as  he  implies. 
Christian  Science  is  not  a  departure  from  the  first  cen- 
tury churches, — as  surely  it  is  not, — why  persecute 
it?  Are  the  churches  opening  fire  on  their  own  religious 
ranks,  or  are  they  attacking  a  peaceable  party  quite 


FAITH  IN  METAPHYSICS  301 

their  antipode?  Christian  Science  is  a  reflected  glory; 
it  shines  with  borrowed  rays  —  from  Light  emitting  light. 
Christian  Science  is  the  new-old  Christianity,  that  which 
was  and  is  the  revelation  of  divine  Love. 

The  present  flux  in  religious  faith  may  be  found  to  be 
a  healthy  fermentation,  by  which  the  lees  of  religion  will 
be  lost,  dogma  and  creed  will  pass  off  in  scum,  leaving  a 
solid  Christianity  at  the  bottom  —  a  foundation  for  the 
builders.  I  would  that  all  the  churches  on  earth  could 
unite  as  brethren  in  one  prayer:  Father,  teach  us  the 
life  of  Love. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
March  22,  1899. 

[Letter  to  the  New  York  World] 

Faith  in  Metaphysics 

Is  faith  in  divine  metaphysics  insanity? 

All  sin  is  insanity,  but  healing  the  sick  is  not  sin. 
There  is  a  universal  insanity  which  mistakes  fable  for 
fact  throughout  the  entire  testimony  of  the  material 
senses.  Those  unfortunate  people  who  are  committed  to 
insane  asylums  are  only  so  many  well-defined  instances 
of  the  baneful  effects  of  illusion  on  mortal  minds  and 
bodies.  The  supposition  that  we  can  correct  insanity 
by  the  use  of  drugs  is  in  itself  a  species  of  insanity.  A 
drug  cannot  of  itself  go  to  the  brain  or  affect  cerebral 
conditions  in  any  manner  whatever.  Drugs  cannot 
remove  inflammation,  restore  disordered  functions,  or 
destroy   disease   without   the   aid   of  mind. 

If  mind  be  absent  from  the  body,  drugs  can  produce 
no  curative  effect   upon  the  body.      The   mind   must 


302  misc|:llany 

be,  is,  the  vehicle  of  all  modes  of  healing  disease  and  of 
producing  disease.  Through  the  mandate  of  mind  or 
according  to  a  man's  belief,  can  he  be  helped  or  be  killed 
by  a  drug;  but  mind,  not  matter,  produces  the  result  in 
either  case. 

Neither  life  nor  death,  health  nor  disease,  can  be  pro- 
duced on  a  corpse,  whence  mind  has  departed.  This 
self-evident  fact  is  proof  that  mind  is  the  cause  of  all 
effect  made  manifest  through  so-called  matter.  The 
general  craze  is  that  matter  masters  mind;  the  specific 
insanity  is  that  brain,  matter,  is  insane. 

[Letter  to  the  New  York  Herald] 
Reply  to  Mark  Twain 

It  is  a  fact  well  understood  that  I  begged  the  students 
who  first  gave  me  the  endearing  appellative  "Mother," 
not  to  name  me  thus.  But  without  my  consent,  the  use 
of  the  word  spread  like  wildfire.  I  still  must  think  the 
name  is  not  applicable  to  me.  I  stand  in  relation  to 
this  century  as  a  Christian  Discoverer,  Founder,  and 
Leader.  I  regard  self-deification  as  blasphemous.  I  may 
be  more  loved,  but  I  am  less  lauded,  pampered,  provided 
for,  and  cheered  than  others  before  me  —  and  where- 
fore? Because  Christian  Science  is  not  yet  popular,  and 
I  refuse  adulation. 

My  first  visit  to  The  Mother  Church  after  it  was  built 
and  dedicated  pleased  me,  and  the  situation  was  satisfac- 
tory. The  dear  members  wanted  to  greet  me  with  escort 
and  the  ringing  of  bells,  but  I  declined  and  went  alone  in 
my  carriage  to  the  church,  entered  it,  and  knelt  in  thanks 
upon  the  steps  of  its  altar.     There  the  foresplendor  of 


REPLY  TO  MARK  TWAIN  303 

the  beginnings  of  truth  fell  mysteriously  upon  my  spirit. 
I  beHeve  in  one  Christ,  teach  one  Christ,  know  of  but 
one  Christ.  I  believe  in  but  one  incarnation,  one  Mother 
Mary.  I  know  that  I  am  not  that  one,  and  I  have  never 
claimed  to  be.  It  suffices  me  to  learn  the  Science  of  the 
Scriptures  relative  to  this  subject. 

Christian  Scientists  have  no  quarrel  with  Protestants, 
Catholics,  or  any  other  sect.  Christian  Scientists  need  to 
be  understood  as  following  the  divine  Principle  —  God, 
Love  —  and  not  imagined  to  be  unscientiiic  worshippers 
of  a  human  being. 

In  his  article,  of  which  I  have  seen  only  extracts,  Mark 
Twain's  wit  was  not  wasted  in  certain  directions.  Chris- 
tian Science  eschews  divine  rights  in  human  beings. 
If  the  individual  governed  human  consciousness,  my 
statement  of  Christian  Science  would  be  disproved; 
but  to  demonstrate  Science  and  its  pure  monotheism 
—  one  God,  one  Christ,  no  idolatry,  no  human  propa- 
ganda —  it  is  essential  to  understand  the  spiritual  idea. 
Jesus  taught  and  proved  that  what  feeds  a  few  feeds 
all.  His  life-work  subordinated  the  material  to  the 
spiritual,  and  he  left  his  legacy  of  truth  to  man- 
kind. His  metaphysics  is  not  the  sport  of  philosophy, 
religion,  or  science;  rather  is  it  the  pith  and  finale  of 
them  all. 

I  have  not  the  inspiration  nor  the  aspiration  to  be 
a  first  or  second  Virgin-mother  —  her  duplicate,  ante- 
cedent, or  subsequent.  What  I  am  remains  to  be  proved 
by  the  good  I  do.  W^e  need  much  humility,  wisdom, 
and  love  to  perform  the  functions  of  foreshadowing  and 
foretasting  heaven  within  us.  This  glory  is  molten  in 
the  furnace  of  affliction. 


304  MISCELLANY 

[Boston  Journal,  June  8,  19031 
A  Misstatement  Corrected 

I  was  early  a  pupil  of  Miss  Sarah  J.  Bodwell,  the 
principal  of  Sanbornton  Academy,  New  Hampshire,  and 
finished  my  course  of  studies  under  Professor  Dyer 
H.  Sanborn,  author  of  Sanborn's  Grammar.  Among 
my  early  studies  were  Comstock's  Natural  Philosophy, 
Chemistry,  Blair's  Rhetoric,  Whateley's  Logic,  Watt's 
"On  the  Mind  and  Moral  Science."  At  sixteen  years 
of  age,  I  began  writing  for  the  leading  newspapers,  and 
for  many  years  I  wrote  for  the  best  magazines  in  the 
South  and  North.  I  have  lectured  in  large  and  crowded 
halls  in  New  York  City,  Chicago,  Boston,  Portland, 
and  at  Waterville  College,  and  have  been  invited  to 
lecture  in  London,  England,  and  Edinburgh,  Scotland. 
In  1883,  I  started  The  Christian  Science  Journal,  and 
for  several  years  was  the  proprietor  and  sole  editor  of 
that  periodical.  In  1893,  Judge  S.  J.  Hanna  became 
editor  of  The  Christian  Science  Journal,  and  for  ten 
subsequent  years  he  knew  my  ability  as  an  editor.  In 
a  lecture  in  Chicago,  he  said:  "Mrs.  Eddy  is  from 
every  point  of  view  a  woman  of  sound  education  and 
liberal  culture." 

Agassiz,  the  celebrated  naturalist  and  author,  wisely 
said:  "Every  great  scientific  truth  goes  through  three 
stages.  First,  people  say  it  conflicts  with  the  Bible. 
Next,  they  say  it  has  been  discovered  before.  Lastly, 
they  say  they  have  always  believed  it." 

The  first  attack  upon  me  was:  Mrs.  Eddy  misinterprets 
the  Scriptures;  second,  she  has  stolen  the  contents  of  her 
book,  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures," 


A  PLEA  FOR  JUSTICE  305 

from  one  P.  P.  Quimby  (an  obscure,  uneducated  man), 
and  that  he  is  the  founder  of  Christian  Science.  Faihng 
in  these  attempts,  the  calumniator  has  resorted  to  Ralph 
Waldo  Emerson's  philosophy  as  the  authority  for  Christian 
Science!  Lastly,  the  defamer  will  declare  as  honestly  (?), 
"I  have  always  known  it." 

In  Science  and  Health,  page  68,  third  paragraph,  I 
briefly  express  myself  unmistakably  on  the  subject  of 
"vulgar  metaphysics,"  and  the  manuscripts  and  letters 
in  my  possession,  which  "vulgar"  defamers  have  circu- 
lated, stand  in  evidence.  People  do  not  know  who  is 
referred  to  as  "an  ignorant  woman  in  New  Hampshire." 
Many  of  the  nation's  best  and  most  distinguished  men 
and  women  were  natives  of  the  Granite  State. 

I  am  the  author  of  the  Christian  Science  textbook, 
"Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scriptures;"  and 
the  demand  for  this  book  constantly  increases.  I  am 
rated  in  the  National  Magazine  (1903)  as  "standing 
eighth  in  a  list  of  twenty-two  of  the  foremost  living 
authors." 

I  claim  no  special  merit  of  any  kind.  All  that  I  am 
in  reality,  God  has  made  me.  I  still  wait  at  the  cross  to 
learn  definitely  more  from  my  great  jMaster,  but  not 
of  the  Greek  nor  of  the  Roman  schools  —  simply  how  to 
do  his  works. 

A  Plea  for  Justice 

My  recent  reply  to  the  reprint  of  a  scandal  in  the 
Literary  Digest  was  not  a  question  of  "Who  shall  be 
greatest?"  but  of  "Who  shall  be  just?"  Who  is  or  is 
not  the  founder  of  Christian  Science  was  not  the  trend 
of  thought,  but  my  purpose  was  to  lift  the  curtain  on 


306  MISCELLANY 

wrong,  on  falsehood  which  persistently  misrepresents 
my  character,  education,  and  authorship,  and  attempts 
to  narrow  my  life  into  a  conflict  for  fame. 

Far  be  it  from  me  to  tread  on  the  ashes  of  the  dead  or 
to  dissever  any  unity  that  may  exist  between  Christian 
Science  and  the  philosophy  of  a  great  and  good  man,  for 
such  was  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson ;  and  I  deem  it  unwise  to 
enter  into  a  newspaper  controversy  over  a  question  that 
is  no  longer  a  question.  The  false  should  be  antagonized 
only  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  true  apparent.  I  have 
quite  another  purpose  in  life  than  to  be  thought  great. 
Time  and  goodness  determine  greatness.  The  greatest 
reform,  with  almost  unutterable  truths  to  translate, 
must  wait  to  be  transfused  into  the  practical  and 
to  be  understood  in  the  "new  tongue."  Age,  with 
experience-acquired  patience  and  unselfed  love,  waits 
on  God.  Human  merit  or  demerit  will  find  its  proper 
level.  Divinity  alone  solves  the  problem  of  human- 
ity, and  that  in  God's  own  time.  "By  their  fruits  ye 
shall  know  them." 

Reminiscences 

In  1861,  when  I  first  visited  Dr.  Quimby  of  Portland, 
Me.,  his  scribblings  were  descriptions  of  his  patients,  and 
these  comprised  the  manuscripts  which  in  1887  I  adver- 
tised that  I  would  pay  for  having  published.  Before  his 
decease,  in  January,  1866,  Dr.  Quimby  had  tried  to  get 
them  published  and  had  failed. 

Quotations  have  been  published,  purporting  to  be  Dr. 
Quimby's  own  words,  which  were  written  while  I  was  his 
patient  in  Portland  and  holding  long  conversations  with 
him  on  my  views  of  mental  therapeutics.    Some  words  in 


REMINISCENCES  307 

these  quotations  certainly  read  like  words  that  I  said  to 
him,  and  which  I,  at  his  request,  had  added  to  his 
copy  when  I  corrected  it.  In  his  conversations  with 
me  and  in  his  scribblings,  the  word  science  was  not 
used  at  all,  till  one  day  I  declared  to  him  that  back 
of  his  magnetic  treatment  and  manipulation  of  patients, 
there  was  a  science,  and  it  was  the  science  of  mind, 
which  had  nothing  to  do  with  matter,  electricity,  or 
physics. 

After  this  I  noticed  he  used  that  word,  as  well  as  other 
terms  which  I  employed  that  seemed  at  first  new  to  him. 
He  even  acknowledged  this  himself,  and  startled  me  by 
saying  what  I  cannot  forget  —  it  w^as  this:  "I  see  now 
what  you  mean,  and  I  see  that  I  am  John,  and-  that  you 
are  Jesus." 

At  that  date  I  was  a  staunch  orthodox,  and  my  theologi- 
cal belief  was  offended  by  his  saying  and  I  entered  a  de- 
murrer which  rebuked  him.  But  afterwards  I  concluded 
that  he  only  referred  to  the  coming  anew  of  Truth,  which 
we  both  desired;  for  in  some  respects  he  was  quite  a  seer 
and  understood  what  I  said  better  than  some  others  did. 
For  one  so  unlearned,  he  was  a  remarkable  man.  Had 
his  remark  related  to  my  personality,  I  should  still  think 
that  it  was  profane. 

At  first  my  case  improved  wonderfully  under  his 
treatment,  but  it  relapsed.  I  was  gradually  emerging 
from  materia  medica,  dogma,  and  creeds,  and  drifting 
whither  I  knew  not.  This  mental  struggle  might  have 
caused  my  illness.  The  fallacy  of  materia  medica,  its 
lack  of  science,  and  the  want  of  divinity  in  scholastic 
theology,  had  already  dawned  on  me.  My  idealism, 
however,   limped,  for  then  it  lacked  Science.    But  the 


308  MISC^ILLANY 

divine  Love  will  accomplish  what  all  the  powers 
of  earth  combined  can  never  prevent  being  accom- 
plished —  the  advent  of  divine  heahng  and  its  divine 
Science. 

Reply  to  McClure's  Magazine 

It  is  calumny  on  Christian  Science  to  say  that  man  is 
aroused  to  thought  or  action  only  by  ease,  pleasure,  or 
recompense.  Something  higher,  nobler,  more  imperative 
impels  the  impulse  of  Soul. 

It  becomes  my  duty  to  be  just  to  the  departed  and  to 
tread  not  ruthlessly  on  their  ashes.  The  attack  on  me 
and  my  late  father  and  his  family  in  McClure's  Magazine, 
January,  -1907,  compels  me  as  a  dutiful  child  and  the 
Leader  of  Christian  Science  to  speak. 

McClure's  Magazine  refers  to  my  father's  "tall,  gaunt 
frame"  and  pictures  "the  old  man  tramping  doggedly 
along  the  highway,  regularly  beating  the  ground  with  a 
huge  walking-stick."  My  father's  person  was  erect  and 
robust.  He  never  used  a  walking-stick.  To  illustrate: 
One  time  when  my  father  was  visiting  Governor  Pierce, 
President  Franklin  Pierce's  father,  the  Governor  handed 
him  a  gold-headed  walking-stick  as  they  were  about  to 
start  for  church.  My  father  thanked  the  Governor, 
but  declined  to  accept  the  stick,  saying,  "I  never  use 
a  cane." 

Although  McClure's  Magazine  attributes  to  my  father 
language  unseemly,  his  household  law,  constantly  en- 
forced, was  no  profanity  and  no  slang  phrases.  McClure's 
Magazine  also  declares  that  the  Bible  was  the  only  book 
in  his  house.  On  the  contrary,  my  father  was  a  great 
reader.    The  man  whom  McClure's  Magazine  characterizes 


REPLY  TO  McCLURE'S  IVIAGAZINE       309 

as  "ignorant,  dominating,  passionate,  fearless,"  was 
uniformly  dignified  —  a  well-informed,  intellectual  man, 
cultivated  in  mind  and  manners.  He  was  called  upon 
to  do  much  business  for  his  town,  making  out  deeds, 
settling  quarrels,  and  even  acting  as  counsel  in  a  lawsuit 
involving  a  question  of  pauperism  between  the  towns  of 
Loudon  and  Bow,  N.  H.  Franklin  Pierce,  afterwards 
President  of  the  United  States,  was  the  counsel  for 
Loudon  and  IMark  Baker  for  Bow.  Both  entered  their 
pleas,  and  my  father  won  the  suit.  After  it  was  decided, 
Mr.  Pierce  bowed  to  my  father  and  congratulated  him. 
For  several  years  father  was  chaplain  of  the  New 
Hampshire  State  Militia,  and  as  I  recollect  it,  he  was 
justice  of  the  peace  at  one  time.  My  father  was  a 
strong  believer  in  States'  rights,  but  slavery  he  regarded 
as  a  great  sin. 

Mark  Baker  was  the  youngest  of  his  father's  family,  and 
inherited  his  father's  real  estate,  an  extensive  farm  situ- 
ated in  Bow  and  Concord,  N.  H.  It  is  on  record  that 
Mark  Baker's  father  paid  the  largest  tax  in  the  colony. 
McClure's  Magazine  says,  describing  the  Baker  home- 
stead at  Bow :  "  The  house  itself  was  a  small,  square  box 
building  of  rudimentary  architecture."  My  father's 
house  had  a  sloping  roof,  after  the  prevailing  style  of 
architecture  at  that  date. 

McClure's  Magazine  states:  "Alone  of  the  Bakers,  he 
[Albert]  received  a  liberal  education.  .  .  .  Mary  Baker 
passed  her  first  fifteen  years  at  the  ancestral  home  at  Bow. 
It  was  a  lonely  and  unstimulating  existence.  The  church 
supplied  the  only  social  diversions,  the  district  school 
practically  all  the  intellectual  life." 

Let  us  see  what  were  the  fruits  of  this  "lonely  and 


310  MISCELLANY 

unstimulating  existence."  All  my  father's  daughters  were 
given  an  academic  education,  sufficiently  advanced  so  that 
they  all  taught  school  acceptably  at  various  times  and 
places.  My  brother  Albert  was  a  distinguished  lawyer. 
In  addition  to  my  academic  training,  I  was  privately 
tutored  by  him.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Legislature,  and  was  nominated  for  Congress,  but 
died  before  the  election.  McClure's  Magazine  calls  my 
youngest  brother,  George  Sullivan  Baker,  "  a  workman  in 
a  Tilton  woolen  mill."  As  a  matter  of  fact,  he  was  joint 
partner  with  Alexander  Tilton,  and  together  they  owned  a 
large  manufacturing  establishment  in  Tilton,  N.  H.  His 
military  title  of  Colonel  came  from  appointment  on  the 
staff  of  the  Governor  of  New  Hampshire.  My  oldest 
brother,  Samuel  D.  Baker,  carried  on  a  large  business  in 
Boston,  Mass. 

Regarding  the  allegation  by  McClure's  Magazine  that  all 
the  family,  "excepting  Albert,  died  of  cancer,"  I  will 
say  that  there  was  never  a  death  in  my  father's  family 
reported  by  physician  or  post-mortem  examination  as 
caused  by  cancer. 

McClure's  Magazine  says  that  "the  quarrels  between 
Mary,  a  child  ten  years  old,  and  her  father,  a  gray-haired 
man  of  fifty,  frequently  set  the  house  in  an  uproar," 
and  adds  that  these  "fits"  were  diagnosed  by  Dr.  Ladd 
as  "hysteria  mingled  with  bad  temper."  My  mother 
often  presented  my  disposition  as  exemplary  for  her  other 
children  to  imitate,  saying,  "When  do  you  ever  see 
Mary  angry?"  When  the  first  edition  of  Science  and 
Health  was  published,  Dr.  Ladd  said  to  Alexander  Tilton : 
"Read  it,  for  it  will  do  you  good.  It  does  not  surprise 
me,  it  so  resembles  the  author." 


REPLY  TO   McCLURE'S  MAGAZINE       311 

I  will  relate  the  following  incident,  which  occurred  later 
in  life,  as  illustrative  of  my  disposition :  — 

While  I  was  living  with  Dr.  Patterson  at  his  country 
home  in  North  Groton,  N.  H.,  a  girl,  totally  blind,  knocked 
at  the  door  and  was  admitted.  She  begged  to  be  allowed 
to  remain  with  me,  and  my  tenderness  and  sympathy  were 
such  that  I  could  not  refuse  her.  Shortly  after,  however, 
my  good  housekeeper  said  to  me :  "  If  this  blind  girl  stays 
with  you,  I  shall  have  to  leave;  she  troubles  me  so  much." 
It  was  not  in  my  heart  to  turn  the  blind  girl  out,  and  so 
I  lost  my  housekeeper. 

My  reply  to  the  statement  that  the  clerk's  book  shows 
that  I  joined  the  Tilton  Congregational  Church  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  is  that  my  religious  experience  seemed  to 
culminate  at  twelve  years  of  age.  Hence  a  mistake  may 
have  occurred  as  to  the  exact  date  of  my  first  church 
membership. 

The  facts  regarding  the  McNeil  coat-of-arms  are  as 
follows :  — 

Fanny  McNeil,  President  Pierce's  niece,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Judge  Potter,  presented  me  my  coat-of-arms,  say- 
ing that  it  was  taken  in  connection  with  her  own  family 
coat-of-arms.  I  never  doubted  the  veracity  of  her  gift. 
I  have  another  coat-of-arms,  which  is  of  my  mother's 
ancestry.  When  I  was  last  in  Washington,  D.  C,  Mrs. 
Judge  Potter  and  myself  knelt  in  silent  prayer  on  the 
mound  of  her  late  father.  General  John  McNeil,  the 
hero  of  Lundy  Lane. 

Notwithstanding  that  McClure's  Magazine  says,  "Mary 
Baker  completed  her  education  when  she  finished  Smith's 
grammar  and  reached  long  division  in  arithmetic,"  I  was 
called   by  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Rust,  D.D.,  Principal  of  the 


312  MISCELLANY 

Methodist  Conference  Seminary  at  Sanbornton  Bridge,  to 
supply  the  place  of  his  leading  teacher  during  her  tempo- 
rary absence. 

Regarding  my  first  marriage  and  the  tragic  death  of  my 
husband,  McClure's  Magazine  says:  "He  [George  Wash- 
ington Glover]  took  his  bride  to  Wilmington,  South  Caro- 
lina, and  in  June,  1844,  six  months  after  his  marriage,  he 
died  of  yellow  fever.  He  left  his  young  wife  in  a  miser- 
able plight.  She  was  far  from  home  and  entirely  without 
money  or  friends.  Glover,  however,  was  a  Free  Mason, 
and  thus  received  a  decent  burial.  The  Masons  also  paid 
Mrs.  Glover's  fare  to  New  York  City,  where  she  was 
met  and  taken  to  her  father's  home  by  her  brother  George. 
.  .  .  Her  position  was  an  embarrassing  one.  She  was  a 
grown  woman,  with  a  child,  but  entirely  without  means 
of  support.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Glover  made  only  one  effort  at 
self -support.     For  a  brief  season  she  taught  school." 

My  first  husband.  Major  George  W.  Glover,  resided  in 
Charleston,  S.  C.  While  on  a  business  trip  to  Wilming- 
ton, N.  C,  he  was  suddenly  seized  with  yellow  fever  and 
died  in  about  nine  days.  I  was  with  him  on  this  trip. 
He  took  with  him  the  usual  amount  of  money  he  would 
need  on  such  an  excursion.  At  his  decease  I  was  sur- 
rounded by  friends,  and  their  provisions  in  my  behalf  were 
most  tender.  The  Governor  of  the  State  and  his  staff, 
with  a  long  procession,  followed  the  remains  of  my  be- 
loved one  to  the  cemetery.  The  Free  Masons  selected 
my  escort,  who  took  me  to  my  father's  home  in  Tilton, 
N.  H.  My  salary  for  writing  gave  me  ample  support. 
I  did  open  an  infant  school,  but  it  was  for  the  purpose  of 
starting  that  educational  system  in  New  Hampshire. 

The  rhyme  attributed  to  me  by  McClure's  Magazine  is 


REPLY  TO  McCLURE'S   MAGAZINE       313 

not  mine,  but  is,  I  understand,  a  paraphrase  of  a  silly 
song  of  years  ago.  Correctly  quoted,  it  is  as  follows,  so 
I  have  been  told :  — 

Gro  to  Jane  Glover, 
Tell  her  I  love  her; 
By  the  light  of  the  moon 
I  will  go  to  her. 

The  various  stories  told  by  McClure's  Magazine  about 
my  father  spreading  the  road  in  front  of  his  house  with 
tan-bark  and  straw,  and  about  persons  being  hired  to  rock 
me,  I  am  ignorant  of.  Nor  do  I  remember  any  such  stuff 
as  Dr.  Patterson  driving  into  Franklin,  N.  H.,  with  a 
couch  or  cradle  for  me  in  his  wagon.  I  only  know  that 
my  father  and  mother  did  everything  they  could  think  of 
to  help  me  when  I  was  ill. 

I  was  never  "given  to  long  and  lonely  wanderings, 
especially  at  night,"  as  stated  by  McClure's  Magazine.  I 
was  always  accompanied  by  some  responsible  individual 
when  I  took  an  evening  walk,  but  I  seldom  took  one.  I 
have  always  consistently  declared  that  I  was  not  a  medium 
for  spirits.  I  never  was  esp>ecially  interested  in  the 
Shakers,  never  "dabbled  in  mesmerism,"  never  was  "an 
amateur  clairvoyant,"  nor  did  "the  superstitious  coun- 
try folk  frequently"  seek  my  advice.  I  never  went 
into  a  trance  to  describe  scenes  far  away,  as  McClure's 
Magazine  says. 

My  oldest  sister  dearly  loved  me,  but  I  wounded  her 
pride  when  I  adopted  Christian  Science,  and  to  a  Baker 
that  was  a  sorry  offence.  I  was  obliged  to  be  parted 
from  my  son,  because  after  my  father's  second  marriage 
my  httle  boy  was  not  welcome  in  my  father's  house. 


314  MISCELLANY 

McCluw's  Magazine  calls  Dr.  Daniel  Patterson,  my 
second  husband,  "an  itinerant  dentist."  It  says  that 
after  my  marriage  we  "lived  for  a  short  time  at  Tilton, 
then  moved  to  Franklin.  .  .  .  During  the  following  nine 
years  the  Pattersons  led  a  roving  existence.  The  doctor 
practised  in  several  towns,  from  Tilton  to  North  Groton 
and  then  to  Rumney."  When  I  was  married  to  him.  Dr. 
Daniel  Patterson  was  located  in  Franklin,  N.  H.  He  had 
the  degree  D.D.S.,  was  a  popular  man,  and  considered  a 
rarely  skilful  dentist.  He  bought  a  place  in  North  Groton, 
which  he  fancied,  for  a  summer  home.  At  that  time  he 
owned  a  house  in  Franklin,  N.  H. 

Although,  as  McClure's  Magazine  claims,  the  court 
record  may  state  that  my  divorce  from  Dr.  Patterson  was 
granted  on  the  ground  of  desertion,  the  cause  neverthe- 
less was  adultery.  Individuals  are  here  to-day  who  were 
present  in  court  when  the  decision  was  given  by  the  judge 
and  who  know  the  following  facts:  After  the  evidence 
had  been  submitted  that  a  husband  was  about  to  have  Dr. 
Patterson  arrested  for  eloping  with  his  wife,  the  court 
instructed  the  clerk  to  record  the  divorce  in  my  favor. 
What  prevented  Dr.  Patterson's  arrest  was  a  letter  from 
me  to  this  self-same  husband,  imploring  him  not  to  do  it. 
When  this  husband  recovered  his  wife,  he  kept  her  a 
prisoner  in  her  home,  and  I  was  also  the  means  of  recon- 
ciling the  couple.  A  Christian  Scientist  has  told  me  that 
with  tears  of  gratitude  the  wife  of  this  husband  related 
these  facts  to  her  just  as  I  have  stated  them.  I  lived 
with  Dr.  Patterson  peaceably,  and  he  was  kind  to  me  up 
to  the  time  of  the  divorce. 

The  following  affidavit  by  R.  D.  Rounsevel  of  Littleton, 
N.  H.,  proprietor  of  the  White  Mountain  House,  Fabyans, 


REPLY  TO  McCLURE'S  MAGAZINE       315 

N.  H.,  the  original  of  which  is  in  my  possession,  is  of 
interest  in  this  connection :  — 

About  the  year  1874,  Dr.  Patterson,  a  dentist,  boarded 
with  me  in  Littleton,  New  Hampshire.  During  his  stay, 
at  different  times,  I  had  conversation  with  him  about  his 
wife,  from  whom  he  was  separated.  He  spoke  of  her  being 
a  pure  and  Christian  woman,  and  the  cause  of  the  separa- 
tion being  wholly  on  his  part;  that  if  he  had  done  as  he 
ought,  he  might  have  had  as  pleasant  and  happy  home  as 
one  could  wish  for. 

At  that  time  I  had  no  knowledge  of  who  his  wife  was. 
Later  on  I  learned  that  Mary  Baker  G.  Eddy,  the  Dis- 
coverer and  Founder  of  Christian  Science,  was  the  above- 
mentioned  woman.  -^.       ,.     t^   t-w  t^ 

(bigned)     R.  D.  Rounsevel. 

Grafton  S.  S.  Jan'y,  1902.  Then  personally  appeared 
R.  D.  Rounsevel  and  made  oath  that  the  within  statement 
by  him  signed  is  true. 

Before  me,  (Signed)     H.  M,  Morse, 

Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Who  or  what  is  the  McClure  "history,"  so  called,  pre- 
senting? Is  it  myself,  the  veritable  Mrs.  EMdy,  whom 
the  New  York  World  declared  dying  of  cancer,  or  is  it 
her  alleged  double  or  dummy  heretofore  described? 

If  indeed  it  be  I,  allow  me  to  thank  the  enterprising 
historians  for  the  testimony  they  have  thereby  given  of  the 
divine  power  of  Christian  Science,  which  they  admit  has 
snatched  me  from  the  cradle  and  the  grave,  and  made 
me  the  beloved  Leader  of  millions  of  the  good  men  and 
women  in  our  own  and  in  other  countries,  —  and  all  this 


316  MISCELLANY 

because  the  truth  I  have  promulgated  has  separated  the 
tares  from  the  wheat,  uniting  in  one  body  those  who  love 
Truth;  because  Truth  divides  between  sect  and  Science 
and  renews  the  heavenward  impulse;  because  I  still  hear 
the  harvest  song  of  the  Redeemer  awakening  the  nations, 
causing  man  to  love  his  enemies;  because  "blessed  are  ye, 
when  men  shall  revile  you,  and  persecute  you,  and  shall 
say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake." 

[Christian  Science  Sentinel,  January  19,  1907] 
A  Card 

The  article  in  the  January  number  of  The  Arena  maga- 
zine, entitled  "The  Recent  Reckless  and  Irresponsible 
Attacks  on  Christian  Science  and  its  Founder,  with  a 
Survey  of  the  Christian  Science  Movement,"  by  the 
scholarly  editor,  Mr.  B.  O.  Flower,  is  a  grand  defence  of 
our  Cause  and  its  Leader.  Such  a  dignified,  eloquent 
appeal  to  the  press  in  behalf  of  common  justice  and  truth 
demands  public  attention.  It  defends  human  rights  and 
the  freedom  of  Christian  sentiments,  and  tends  to  turn 
back  the  foaming  torrents  of  ignorance,  envy,  and  malice. 
I  am  pleased  to  find  this  "twentieth-century  review  of 
opinion  "  once  more  under  Mr.  Flower's  able  guardianship 
and  manifesting  its  unbiased  judgment  by  such  sound 
appreciation  of  the  rights  of  Christian  Scientists  and  of 

all  that  is  right.  t.^         t>  t^ 

*  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

AUTHORSmP  OF  SCIENCE  AND  HEALTH 

THE  following  statement,  which  was  pubHshed  in 
the  Sentinel  of  December  1,  1906,  exactly  defin- 
ing her  relations  with  the  Rev.  James  Henry  Wiggin  of 
Boston,  was  made  by  Mrs.  Eddy  in  refutation  of  allega- 
tions in  the  public  press  to  the  effect  that  Mr.  Wiggin 
had  a  share  in  the  authorship  of  "Science  and  Health 
with  Key  to  the  Scriptures." 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Statement 

It  is  a  great  mistake  to  say  that  I  employed  the  Rev. 
James  Henry  Wiggin  to  correct  my  diction.  It  was  for 
no  such  purpose.  I  engaged  j\Ir.  Wiggin  so  as  to  avail 
myself  of  his  criticisms  of  my  statement  of  Christian 
Science,  which  criticisms  would  enable  me  to  explain 
more  clearly  the  points  that  might  seem  ambiguous  to 
the  reader. 

Mr.  Calvin  A.  Frj^e  copied  my  writings,  and  he  will  tell 
you  that  Mr.  Wiggin  left  my  diction  quite  out  of  the 
question,  sometimes  saying,  "I  wouldn't  express  it  that 
way."  He  often  dissented  from  what  I  had  written, 
but  I  quieted  him  by  quoting  corroborative  texts  of 
Scripture. 

My  diction,  as  used  in  explaining  Christian  Science,  has 
been  called  original.    The  liberty  that  I  have  taken  with 

317 


318  MISCELLANY 

capitalization,  in  order  to  express  the  "new  tongue,"  has 
well-nigh  constituted  a  new  style  of  language.  In  almost 
every  case  where  Mr.  Wiggin  added  words,  I  have  erased 
them  in  my  revisions. 

Mr.  Wiggin  was  not  my  proofreader  for  ray  book 
"Miscellaneous  Writings,"  and  for  only  two  of  my  books. 
I  especially  employed  him  on  "Science  and  Health  with 
Key  to  the  Scriptures,"  because  at  that  date  some  critics 
declared  that  my  book  was  as  ungrammatical  as  it  was 
misleading.  I  availed  myself  of  the  name  of  the  former 
proofreader  for  the  University  Press,  Cambridge,  to 
defend  my  grammatical  construction,  and  confidently 
awaited  the  years  to  declare  the  moral  and  spiritual 
effect  upon  the  age  of  "Science  and  Health  with  Key 
to  the  Scriptures." 

I  invited  Mr.  Wiggin  to  visit  one  of  my  classes  in  the 
Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College,  and  he  consented 
on  condition  that  I  should  not  ask  him  any  questions. 
I  agreed  not  to  question  him  just  so  long  as  he  refrained 
from  questioning  me.  He  held  himself  well  in  check 
until  I  began  my  attack  on  agnosticism.  As  I  pro- 
ceeded, Mr.  Wiggin  manifested  more  and  more  agita- 
tion, until  he  could  control  himself  no  longer  and, 
addressing  me,  burst  out  with: 

"  How  do  you  know  that  there  ever  was  such  a  man  as 
Christ  Jesus?" 

He  would  have  continued  with  a  long  argument, 
framed  from  his  ample  fund  of  historical  knowledge, 
but  I  stopped  him. 

"Now,  Mr.  Wiggin,"  I  said,  "you  have  broken  our 
agreement.  I  do  not  find  my  authority  for  Christian 
Science  in  history,  but  in  revelation.     If  there  had  never 


AUTHORSHIP  OF  SCIENCE  AND  HEALTH     319 

existed  such  a  person  as  the  Galilean  Prophet,  it  would 
make  no  difference  to  me.  I  should  still  know  that 
God's  spiritual  ideal  is  the  only  real  man  in  His  image 
and  likeness." 

My  saying  touched  him,  and  I  heard  nothing  further 
from  him  in  the  class,  though  afterwards  he  wrote  a 
kind  little  pamphlet,  signed  "Phare  Pleigh." 

I  hold  the  late  Mr.  Wiggin  in  loving,  grateful  memory 
for  his  high-principled  character  and  well-equipped 
scholarship. 

LETTERS  FROM  STUDENTS 

The  following  letters  from  students  of  Mrs.  Eddy 
confirm  her  statement  regarding  the  work  which  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Wiggin  did  for  her,  and  also  indicate  what  he 
himself  thought  of  that  work  and  of  Mrs.  Eddy:  — 

My  Dear  Teacher :  —  I  am  conversant  with  some  facts 
which  perhaps  have  not  come  under  the  observation  of 
many  of  your  students,  and  considering  the  questions 
which  have  recently  appeared,  it  may  interest  you  to  be 
advised  that  I  have  this  information.  On  the  tenth  day  of 
January,  1887,  I  entered  your  Primary  class  at  Boston. 
A  few  days  later,  in  conversation  with  you  about  the 
preparation  of  a  theme,  you  suggested  that  I  call  on  the 
late  J.  Henry  Wiggin  to  assist  me  in  analyzing  and  arrang- 
ing the  topics,  which  I  did  about  the  twentieth  of  the 
above-named  month.  These  dates  are  very  well  fixed  in 
my  memory,  as  I  considered  the  time  an  important  one 
in  my  experience,  and  do  so  still.  I  also  recall  very 
plainly  the  conversation  with  you  in  general  as  regards 
Mr.  Wiggin.     You  told  me  that  he  had  done  some  literary 


320  MISgELLANY 

work  for  you  and  that  he  was  a  fine  literary  student  and 
a  good  proofreader. 

Upon  caUing  on  Mr.  Wiggin,  I  presented  my  matter  for 
a  theme  to  him,  and  he  readily  consented  to  assist  me, 
which  he  did.  He  also  seemed  very  much  pleased  to 
converse  about  you  and  your  work,  and  I  found  that  his 
statement  of  what  he  had  done  for  you  exactly  agreed 
with  what  you  had  told  me.  He  also  expressed  himself 
freely  as  to  his  high  regard  for  you  as  a  Christian  lady, 
as  an  author,  and  as  a  student  of  ability.  Mr.  Wiggin 
spoke  of  "Science  and  Health  with  Key  to  the  Scrip- 
tures" as  being  a  very  unique  book,  and  seemed  quite 
proud  of  his  having  had  something  to  do  with  some 
editions.  He  always  spoke  of  you  as  the  author  of  this 
book  and  the  author  of  all  your  works.  Mr.  Wiggin 
did  not  claim  to  be  a  Christian  Scientist,  but  was  in 
a  measure  in  sympathy  with  the  movement,  although 
he  did  not  endorse  all  the  statements  in  your  textbook; 
but  his  tendency  was  friendly. 

I  called  on  Mr.  Wiggin  several  times  while  I  was  in  your 
Primary  class  at  the  time  above  referred  to,  and  several 
times  subsequent  thereto,  and  he  always  referred  to  you  as 
the  author  of  your  works  and  spoke  of  your  abihty  without 
any  hesitation  or  restriction.  Our  conversations  were  at 
times  somewhat  long  and  went  into  matters  of  detail 
regarding  your  work,  and  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  he 
was  proud  of  his  acquaintance  with  you. 

I  saw  Mr.  Wiggin  several  times  after  the  class  closed, 
and  the  last  conversation  I  had  with  him  wa»  at  the 
time  of  the  dedication  of  the  first  Mother  Church  edifice 
in  1895.  I  met  him  in  the  vestibule  of  the  church 
and    he   spoke   in   a   very   animated   manner    of    your 


AUTHORSHIP  OF  SCIENCE  AND  HEALTH     321 

grand  demonstration  in  building  this  church  for  your 
followers.  He  seemed  very  proud  to  think  that  he  had 
been  in  a  way  connected  with  your  work,  but  he  always 
referred  to  you  as  the  one  who  had  accomphshed  this 
great  work. 

My  recollections  of  Mr.  Wiggin  place  him  as  one 
of  your  devoted  and  faithful  friends,  one  who  knew 
who  and  what  you  are,  also  your  position  as  regards 
your  published  works;  and  he  always  gave  you  that 
position  without  any  restriction.  I  beUeve  that  Mr, 
Wiggin  .was  an  honest  man  and  that  he  told  the  same 
story  to  every  one  with  whom  he  had  occasion  to  talk, 
so  I  cannot  believe  that  he  has  ever  said  anj-thing 
whatever  of  you  and  your  relations  to  your  published 
works  differing  from  what  he  talked  so  freely  in  my 
presence. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  circumstances  which  have 
arisen  recently,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  statements 
have  been  made,  to  change  my  opinion  one  iota  in  this 
respect. 

It  will  soon  be  twenty  years  since  I  first  saw  you  and 
entered  your  class.  During  that  time,  from  my  connec- 
tion with  the  church,  the  Pubhshing  Society,  and  my 
many  conversations  with  you,  my  personal  knowledge  of 
the  authorship  of  your  works  is  conclusive  to  me  in  every 
detail,  and  I  am  very  glad  that  I  was  among  your  early 
students  and  have  had  this  experience  and  know  of  my 
own  personal  knowledge  what  has  transpired  during  the 
past  twenty  years. 

I  am  also  pleased  to  have  had  conversations  with 
people  who  knew  you  years  before  I  did,  and  who  have 
told  me  of  their  knowledge  of  your  work. 


322  MISCELLANY 

It  is  not  long  since  I  met  a  lady  who  lived  in  Lynn, 
and  she  told  me  she  knew  you  when  you  were  writing 
Science  and  Health,  and  that  she  had  seen  the  manu- 
script. These  are  facts  which  cannot  be  controverted 
and  they  must  stand. 

Your  affectionate  student, 

Edward  P.  Bates. 
Boston,  Mass.,  November  21,  1906. 

My  Beloved  Teacher :  —  I  have  just  read  your  state- 
ment correcting  mistakes  widely  published  about  the 
Rev.  James  H.  Wiggin's  work  for  and  attitude  towards 
you;  also  Mr.  Edward  P.  Bates'  letter  to  you  on  the 
same  subject;  which  reminds  me  of  a  conversation  I 
had  with  Mr.  Wiggin  on  Thanksgiving  Day  twenty 
years  ago,  when  a  friend  and  I  were  the  guests  invited 
to  dine  with  the  Wiggin  family. 

I  had  seen  you  the  day  before  at  the  Metaphysical 
College  and  received  your  permission  to  enter  the  next 
Primary  class  (Jan.  10,  1887).  During  the  evening  my 
friend  spoke  of  my  journeying  from  the  far  South,  and 
waiting  months  in  Boston  on  the  bare  hope  of  a  few 
days'  instruction  by  Mrs.  Eddy  in  Christian  Science. 
She  and  Mrs.  Wiggin  seemed  inclined  to  banter  me  on 
such  enthusiasm,  but  Mr.  Wiggin  kindly  helped  me  by 
advancing  many  good  points  in  the  Science,  which  were 
so  clearly  stated  that  I  was  surprised  when  he  told  me 
he  was  not  a  Christian  Scientist. 

Seeing  my  great  interest  in  the  subject,  he  told  me 
of  his  acquaintance  with  you  and  spoke  earnestly  and 
beautifully  of  you  and  your  work.  The  exact  words  I 
do  not  recall,  but  the  impression  he  left  with  me  was 


AUTHORSHIP  OF  SCIENCE  AND  HEALTH     323 

entirely  in  accordance  with  what  Mr.  Bates  has  so  well 

written  in  the  above-mentioned  letter.     Before   we  left 

that  evening,  Mr.  Wiggin  gave  me  a  pamphlet  entitled 

"Christian  Science  and  the  Bible,"  by  "Phare  Pleigh," 

which  he  said  he  had  written  in  answer  to  an  unfair 

criticism  of  you  and  your  book  by  some  minister  in  the 

far  West.     I  have  his  little  book  yet.     How  long  must  it 

be  before  the  people  find  out  that  you  have  so  identified 

yourself  \\ith  the  truth  by  loving  it  and  hving  it  that  you 

are  not  going  to  lie  about  anything  nor  willingly  leave 

any  false  impression. 

In  loving  gratitude  for  your  living  witness  to  Truth 

and  Love,  „  ^^t 

Florence  Whiteside. 

ClIATT.VNOOGA,  TeNN., 

December  4,  1906. 

Beloved  Teacher :  —  My  heart  has  been  too  full  to  tell 
you  in  words  all  that  your  wonderful  life  and  sacrifice 
means  to  me.  Neither  do  I  now  feel  at  all  equal  to  ex- 
pressing the  crowding  thoughts  of  gratitude  and  praise 
to  God  for  giving  this  age  such  a  Leader  and  teacher  to 
reveal  to  us  His  way.  Your  crowning  triumph  over  error 
and  sin,  which  we  have  so  recently  witnessed,  in  blessing 
those  who  would  destroy  you  if  God  did  not  hold  you  up 
by  the  right  hand  of  His  righteousness,  should  mean  to 
your  older  students  much  that  they  may  not  have  been 
able  to  appreciate  in  times  past. 

I  wonder  if  you  will  remember  that  Mr.  Snider  and 
myself  boarded  in  the  home  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  Henry 
Wiggin  during  the  time  of  our  studying  in  the  second 
class  with  you  —  the  Normal  class  in  the  fall  of  1887? 
We  were  at  that  time  some  eight  days  in  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


324  MISCELLANY 

Wiggin's  home.  He  often  spoke  his  thoughts  freely 
about  you  and  your  work,  especially  your  book  Science 
and  Health.  Mr.  Wiggin  had  somewhat  of  a  thought 
of  contempt  for  the  unlearned,  and  he  scorned  the  sug- 
gestion that  Mr.  Quimby  had  given  you  any  idea  for 
your  book,  as  he  said  you  and  your  ideas  were  too 
much  alike  for  the  book  to  have  come  from  any  one  but 
yourself.  He  often  said  you  were  so  original  and  so 
very  decided  that  no  one  could  be  of  much  service  to 
you,  and  he  often  hinted  that  he  thought  he  could  give 
a  clearer  nomenclature  for  Science  and  Health.  I  re- 
member telling  you  of  this,  and  you  explained  how  long 
you  had  waited  on  the  Lord  to  have  those  very  terms 
revealed  to  you. 

I  am  very  sure  that  neither  Mr.  Wiggin  nor  his  esti- 
mable wife  had  any  other  thought  but  that  you  were 
the  author  of  your  book,  and  were  he  here  to-day  he 
would  be  too  honorable  to  allow  the  thought  to  go  out 
that  he  had  helped  you  write  it.  He  certainly  never 
gave  us  the  impression  that  he  thought  you  needed 
help,  for  we  always  thought  that  Mr.  Wiggin  regarded 
you  as  quite  his  literary  equal,  and  was  gratified  and 
pleased  in  numbering  you  among  his  literary  friends. 
Everything  he  said  conveyed  this  impression  to  us  — 
that  he  regarded  you  as  entirely  unique  and  original. 
He  told  us  laughingly  why  he  accepted  your  invitation 
to  sit  through  your  class.  He  said  he  wanted  to  see  if 
there  was  one  woman  under  the  sun  who  could  keep  to 
her  text.  When  we  asked  him  if  he  found  you  could  do 
so,  he  replied  "Yes,"  and  said  that  no  man  could  have 
done  so  any  better. 

Both    Mr.   and    Mrs.   Wiggin    frequently    mentioned 


AUTHORSHIP  OF  SCIENCE  AND  HEALTH     325 

man}'  kindnesses  you  had  shown  them,  and  spoke  of 
one  especial  day  when  amidst  all  your  duties  you  per- 
sonally called  to  inquire  of  his  welfare  (he  had  been 
ill)  and  to  leave  luscious  hothouse  fruit.  One  thing 
more,  that  I  think  will  amuse  you:  Mr.  Wiggin  was 
very  much  troubled  that  you  had  bought  your  house 
on  Commonwealth  Avenue,  as  he  was  very  sure  Back 
Bay  property  would  never  be  worth  what  you  then 
paid  for  it.  He  regarded  the  old  part  of  Boston  in 
which  he  lived  as  having  a  greater  future  than  the  new 
Back  Bay. 

Years  ago  I  offered  my  services  to  you  in  any  capacity 
in  which  I  could  serve  you,  and  my  desire  has  never 
changed.  Command  me  at  any  time,  in  any  way,  beloved 
Leader. 

With  increasing  love  and  gratitude,  ever  faithfully  your 

^  ^  ^^  '  Carrie  Harvey  Snider. 

New  York,  N.  Y., 
December  7,  1906. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

[The  Christian  Science  Journal] 

A  MEMORABLE   COINCIDENCE  AND   HISTORICAL 
FACTS 

WE  are  glad  to  publish  the  following  interesting 
letter  and  enclosures  received  from  our  Leader. 
That  legislatures  and  courts  are  thus  declaring  the  liberties 
of  Christian  Scientists  is  most  gratifying  to  our  people;  not 
because  a  favor  has  been  extended,  but  because  their 
inherent  rights  are  recognized  in  an  official  and  authori- 
tative manner.  It  is  especially  gratifying  to  them  that 
the  declaration  of  this  recognition  should  be  coincident 
in  the  Southern  and  Northern  States  in  which  Mrs.  JEddy 
has  made  her  home. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Letter 

Dear  Editor :  —  I  send  for  publication  in  our  periodicals 
the  following  deeply  interesting  letter  from  Elizabeth  Earl 
Jones  of  Asheville,  N.  C,  —  the  State  where  my  husband, 
Major  George  W.  Glover,  passed  on  and  up,  the  State 
that  so  signally  honored  his  memory,  where  with  wet  eyes 
the  Free  Masons  laid  on  his  bier  the  emblems  of  a  master 
Mason,  and  in  long  procession  with  tender  dirge  bore  his 
remains  to  their  last  resting-place.  Deeply  grateful,  I 
recognize  the  divine  hand  in  turning  the  hearts  of  the  noble 

326 


HISTORICAL  FACTS  327 

Southrons  of  North  Carolina  legally  to  protect  the  practice 
of  Christian  Science  in  that  State. 

Is  it  not  a  memorable  coincidence  that,  in  the  Court  of 
New  Hampshire,  my  native  State,  and  in  the  Legislature 
of  North  Carolina,  they  have  the  same  year,  in  1903,  made 
it  legal  to  practise  Christian  Science  in  these  States? 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
October  16,  1903. 

MISS    ELIZABETH    EARL    JONES     LETTER 

Beloved  Leader :  —  I  know  the  enclosed  article  will  make 
your  heart  glad,  as  it  has  made  glad  the  hearts  of  all  the 
Christian  Scientists  in  North  Carolina.  This  is  the  result 
of  the  work  done  at  last  winter's  term  of  our  Legislature, 
when  a  medical  bill  was  proposed  calculated  to  limit  or 
stop  the  practice  of  Christian  Science  in  our  State.  An 
amendment  was  obtained  by  Miss  Mary  Hatch  Harrison 
and  a  few  other  Scientists  who  stayed  on  the  field  until  the 
last.  After  the  amendment  had  been  passed,  an  old  law, 
or  rather  a  section  of  an  act  in  the  Legislature  regulating 
taxes,  was  changed  as  follows,  because  the  representa- 
tive men  of  our  dear  State  did  not  wish  to  be  "discour- 
teous to  the  Christian  Scientists."  The  section  formerly 
read,  "pretended  healers,"  but  was  changed  to  read  as 
follows:  "All  other  professionals  who  practise  the  art  of 
healing,"  etc. 

We  thank  our  heavenly  Father  for  this  dignified 
legal  protection  and  recognition,  and  look  forward  to 
the  day,  not  far  distant,  when  the  laws  of  every  State 
will  dignify  the  ministry  of  Christ  as  taught  and  prac- 
tised in  Christian  Science,  and  as  lived  by  our  dear, 


328  MISCELLANY 

dear  Leader,  even  as  God  has  dignified,  blessed,  and 
prospered  it,  and  her. 

With  devoted  love, 

Elizabeth  Earl  Jones. 

105  Bailet  St.,  Asheville,  N.  C, 
October  11,  1903. 

The  following  article,  copied  from  the  Raleigh  (N.  C.) 
News  and  Observer,  is  the  one  referred  to  in  Miss  Jones' 
letter: — 

The  Christian  Science  people,  greatly  pleased  at  the 
law  affecting  them  passed  by  the  last  Legislature,  are 
apt  also  to  be  pleased  with  the  fact  that  the  law  recog- 
nizes them  as  healers,  and  that  it  gives  them  a  license 
to  heal.  This  license  of  five  dollars  annually,  required 
of  physicians,  has  been  required  of  them,  and  how  this 
came  about  in  Kinston  is  told  in  the  Kinston  Free  Press 
as  follows :  — 

Sheriff  Wooten  issued  licenses  yesterday  to  two 
Christian  Science  healers  in  this  city.  This  is  probably 
the  first  to  be  issued  to  the  healers  of  this  sect  in  the 
State. 

Upon  the  request  of  a  prominent  healer  of  the  church, 
the  section  of  the  machinery  act  of  the  Legislature  cover- 
ing it  was  shown,  whereupon  application  for  license  was 
made  and  obtained. 

The  section,  after  enumerating  the  different  professions 
for  which  a  license  must  be  obtained  to  carry  them  on  in 
this  State,  further  says,  "  and  all  other  professionals  who 
practise  the  art  of  healing  for  pay,  shall  pay  a  license  fee 
of  five  dollars." 


HISTORICAL  FACTS  329 

This  was  construed  to  include  the  healers  of  the  Chris- 
tian Science  church,  and  license  was  accordingly  taken 
out. 

The  idea  prevails  that  the  last. General  Assembly  of 
North  Carolina  relieved  the  healers  of  this  sect  from  paying 
this  fee,  but  this  is  not  so.  The  board  only  excused  them 
from  a  medical  examination  before  a  board  of  medical 
examiners. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  reference  to  the  death  of  her  husband. 
Major  George  W.  Glover,  gives  especial  interest  to  the 
following  letter  from  Newbern,  N.  C,  which  appeared 
in  the  Wilmington  (N.  C.)  Dispatch,  October  24,  1903. 
Mrs.  Eddy  has  in  her  possession  photographed  copies  of 
the  notice  of  her  husband's  death  and  of  her  brother's 
letter,  taken  from  the  Wilmington  (N.  C.)  Chronicle  as 
they  appear  in  that  paper  in  the  issues  of  July  3  and 
August  21,  1844,  respectively.  The  photographs  are  ver- 
ified by  the  certificate  of  a  notary  public  and  were  pre- 
sented to  Mrs.  Eddy  by  Miss  Harrison. 


MISg  MARY  HATCH  HARRISONS  LETTER 

To  the  Editor :  —  At  no  better  time  than  now,  when  the 
whole  country  is  recognizing  the  steady  progress  of  Chris- 
tian Science  and  admitting  its  interest  in  the  movement, 
as  shown  by  the  fair  attitude  of  the  press  everywhere, 
could  we  ask  you  to  give  your  readers  the  following  com- 
munication. It  will  put  before  them  some  interesting 
facts  concerning  Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  and  some  in- 
cidents of  her  life  in  North  and  South  Carolina  which 
might  not  have  been  known  but  for  a  criticism  of  this 


330  MISCELLANY 

good  woman  which  was  pubUshed  in  your  paper  in 
August,  190L 

.  I  presume  we  should  not  be  surprised  that  a  noteworthy 
follower  of  our  Lord  should  be  maligned,  since  the  great 
Master  himself  was  scandalized,  and  he  prophesied  that 
his  followers  would  be  so  treated.  The  calumniator  who 
informed  you  in  this  instance  locates  Mrs.  Eddy  in  Wil- 
mington in  1843,  thus  contradicting  his  own  statement, 
since  Mrs.  Eddy  was  not  then  a  resident  of  Wilmington. 
A  local  Christian  Scientist  of  your  city,  whose  womanhood 
and  Christianity  are  appreciated  by  all,  assisted  by  a 
Mason  of  good  standing  there  and  a  Christian  Scientist  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  carefully  investigated  the  points  con- 
cerning Major  Glover's  history  which  are  questioned  by 
this  critic,  and  has  found  Mrs.  Eddy's  statements,  rela- 
ting to  her  husband  (who  she  states  was  of  Charleston, 
S.  C,  not  of  Wilmington,  but  who  died  there  while  on 
business  in  1844,  not  in  1843,  as  claimed  in  your  issue)  are 
sustained  by  Masonic  records  in  each  place  as  well  as 
by  Wilmington  newspapers  of  that  year.  In  "Retro- 
spection and  Introspection"  (p.  19)  Mrs.  Eddy  says  of 
this  circumstance:  — 

"  My  husband  was  a  Free  Mason,  being  a  member  in  St. 
Andrew's  Lodge,  No.  10,  and  of  Union  Chapter,  No.  3,  of 
Royal  Arch  Masons.  He  was  highly  esteemed  and  sin- 
cerely lamented  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, whose  kindness  and  sympathy  help>ed  to  support  me 
in  this  terrible  bereavement.  A  month  later  I  returned  to 
New  Hampshire,  where,  at  the  end  of  four  months,  my 
babe  was  born.  Colonel  Glover's  tender  devotion  to  his 
young  bride  was  remarked  by  all  observers.  With  his 
parting  breath  he  gave  pathetic  directions  to  his  brother 


HISTORICAL  FACTS  331 

Masons  about  accompanying  her  on  her  sad  journey  to 
the  North.  Here  it  is  but  justice  to  record,  they  per- 
formed their  obhgations  most  faithfully." 

Such  watchful  solicitude  as  Mrs.  Eddy  received  at  the 
hands  of  Wilmington's  best  citizens,  among  whom  she 
remembers  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reperton,  a  Baptist  clergyman, 
and  the  Governor  of  the  State,  who  accompanied  her  to 
the  train  on  her  departure,  indicates  her  irreproachable 
standing  in  your  city  at  that  time. 

The  following  letter  of  thanks,  copied  from  the  Wil- 
mington  Chronicle  of  August  21,  1844,  testifies  to  the  love 
and  respect  entertained  for  Mrs.  Eddy  by  Wilmington's 
best  men,  whose  Southern  chivalry  would  have  scorned 
to  extend  such  unrestrained  hospitality  to  an  unworthy 
woman  as  quickly  as  it  would  have  published  the  assail- 
ant of  a  good  woman :  — 

A   CARD 

Through  the  columns  of  your  paper,  will  you  permit 
me,  in  behalf  of  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  late 
Major  George  W.  Glover  of  Wilmington  and  his  be- 
reaved lady,  to  return  our  thanks  and  express  the  feeling 
of  gratitude  we  owe  and  cherish  towards  those  friends  of 
the  deceased  who  so  kindly  attended  him  during  his  last 
sickness,  and  who  still  extended  their  care  and  sj-mpathy 
to  the  lone,  feeble,  and  bereaved  widow  after  his  decease. 
Much  has  often  been  said  of  the  high  feeling  of  honor 
and  the  noble  generosity  of  heart  which  characterized  the 
people  of  the  South,  yet  when  we  listen  to  Mrs.  Glover 
(my  sister)  whilst  recounting  the  kind  attention  paid  to 
the  deceased  during  his  late  illness,  the  sympathy  ex- 
tended to  her  after  his  death,  and  the  assistance  volun- 


332  MISCELLANY 

teered  to  restore  her  to  her  friends  at  a  distance  of  more 
than  a  thousand  miles,  the  power  of  language  would  be 
but  beggared  by  an  attempt  at  expressing  the  feelings  of 
a  swelling  bosom.  The  silent  gush  of  grateful  tears  alone 
can  tell  the  emotions  of  the  thankful  heart,  —  words  are 
indeed  but  a  meagre  tribute  for  so  noble  an  effort  in  be- 
half of  the  unfortunate,  yet  it  is  all  we  can  award :  will  our 
friends  at  Wilmington  accept  it  as  a  tribute  of  grateful 
hearts?  Many  thanks  are  due  Mr.  Cooke,  who  engaged 
to  accompany  her  only  to  New  York,  but  did  not  desert 
her  or  remit  his  kind  attention  until  he  saw  her  in  the 
fond  embrace  of  her  friends. 

Your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  George  S.  Baker. 

Sanbornton  BRnxjE,  N.  H., 
August  12,  1844. 

The  paper  containing  this  card  is  now  in  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  at  Wilmington. 

The  facts  regarding  Major  Glover's  membership  in 
St.  Andrew's  Lodge,  No.  10,  were  brought  to  light  in  a 
most  interesting  way.  A  Christian  Scientist  in  Charles- 
ton was  requested  to  look  up  the  records  of  this  lodge, 
as  we  had  full  confidence  that  it  would  corroborate  Mrs. 
Eddy's  claims.  After  frequent  searchings  and  much  in- 
terviewing with  Masonic  authorities,  it  was  learned  that 
the  lodge  was  no  longer  in  existence,  and  that  during  the 
Civil  War  many  Masonic  records  were  transferred  to 
Columbia,  where  they  were  burned;  but  on  repeated 
search  a  roll  of  papers  recording  the  death  of  George 
Washington  Glover  in  1844  and  giving  best  praises  to 
his  honorable  record  and  Christian  character  was  found; 


HISTORICAL  FACTS  333 

and  said  record,  with  the  seal  of  the  Grand  Secretary, 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  chairman  of  the  Christian 
Science  pubhcation  committee. 

In  the  records  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  Wilmington,  as 
found  by  one  of  your  own  citizens,  a  Mason,  it  is  shown 
that  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  June,  1844,  a  special 
meeting  was  convened  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  last 
tribute  of  respect  to  Brother  George  W.  Glover,  who 
died  on  the  night  of  the  twenty-seventh.  The  minutes 
record  this  further  proceeding:  — 

"A  procession  was  formed,  which  moved  to  the  resi- 
dence of  the  deceased,  and  from  thence  to  the  Episcopal 
burying-ground,  where  the  body  was  interred  with  the 
usual  ceremonies.  The  procession  then  returned  to  the 
lodge,  which  was  closed  in  due  form." 

It  has  never  been  claimed  by  Mrs.  Eddy  nor  by  any 
Christian  Scientists  that  Major  Glover's  remains  were 
carried  North. 

The  Wilmington  Chronicle  of  July  3,  1844,  records  that 
this  good  man,  then  known  as  Major  George  W.  Glover, 
died  on  Thursday  night,  the  twenty-seventh  of  June.  The 
Chronicle  states :  "  His  end  was  calm  and  peaceful,  and  to 
those  friends  who  attended  him  during  his  illness  he  gave 
the  repeated  assurance  of  his  willingness  to  die,  and  of  his 
full  reliance  for  salvation  on  the  merits  of  a  crucified  Re- 
deemer. His  remains  were  interred  with  Masonic  honors. 
He  has  left  an  amiable  wife,  to  whom  he  had  been  united 
but  the  brief  space  of  six  months,  to  lament  this 
irreparable  loss." 

From  the  Chronicle,  dated  September  25,  1844,  we  copy 
the  following:  "We  are  assured  that  reports  of  unusual 
sickness  in  Wilmington  are  in  circulation."    This  periodi- 


334  MISCELLANY 

cal  then  forthwith  strives  to  give  the  impression  that  the 
rumor  is  not  true.  It  is  reasonable  to  infer  from  news- 
paper reports  of  that  date  that  some  insidious  disease 
was  raging  at  that  time. 

The  allegation  that  copies  of  Mrs.  Eddy's  book,  "  Retro- 
spection and  Introspection,"  are  few,  and  that  efforts  are 
being  made  to  buy  them  up  because  she  has  contradicted 
herself,  is  without  foundation.  They  are  advertised  in 
every  weekly  issue  of  the  Christian  Science  Sentinel,  and 
still  contain  the  original  account  of  her  husband's  demise 
at  Wilmington. 

May  it  not  be,  since  this  critic  places  certain  circum- 
stances in  1843,  which  records  show  really  existed  in  1844, 
that  the  woman  whom  he  had  in  mind  is  some  other  one? 

We  can  state  Mrs.  Eddy's  teaching  on  the  unreality  of 
evil  in  no  better  terms  than  to  quote  her  own  words. 
Nothing  could  be  further  from  her  meaning  than  that  evil 
could  be  indulged  in  while  being  called  unreal.  She 
declares  in  her  Message  to  The  Mother  Church  [1901]: 
"To  assume  there  is  no  reality  in  sin,  and  yet  commit 
sin,  is  sin  itself,  that  clings  fast  to  iniquity.  The  Pub- 
lican's wail  won  his  humble  desire,  while  the  Pharisee's 
self-righteousness  crucified  Jesus." 

Mary  Hatch  Harrison. 


MAJOR  GLOVER  S  RECORD  AS  A  MASON 

Of  further  interest  in  this  matter  is  the  following  ex- 
tract from  an  editorial  obituary  which  appeared  in  1845  in 
the  Freemason's  Monthly  Magazine,  published  by  the 
late  Charles  W.  Moore,  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Massachusetts:  — 


HISTORICAL  FACTS  335 

Died  at  Wilmington,  N,  C,  on  the  27th  June  last, 
Major  George  W.  Glover,  formerly  of  Concord,  X.  H. 

Brother  Glover  resided  in  Charleston,  S,  C,  and  was 
made  a  Mason  in  "St.  Andrew's  Lodge,  No.  10."  He  was 
soon  exalted  to  the  degree  of  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  in 
"Union  Chapter,  No.  3,"  and  retained  his  membership 
in  both  till  his  decease.  He  was  devotedly  attached 
to  Masonry,  faithful  as  a  member  and  officer  of  the 
Lodge  and  Chapter,  and  beloved  by  his  brothers  and 
companions,  who  mourn  his  early  death 

Additional  facts  regarding  Major  Glover,  his  illness  and 
death,  are  that  he  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  resident  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  where  he  erected  a  fine  dweUing-house, 
the  drawings  and  specifications  of  which  were  kept  by  his 
widow  for  many  years  after  his  death.  While  at  Wilming- 
ton, N.  C,  in  June,  1844,  Mr.  Glover  was  attacked  with 
yellow  fever  of  the  worst  type,  and  at  the  end  of  nine  days 
he  passed  away.  This  was  the  second  case  of  the  dread 
disease  in  that  city,  and  in  the  hope  of  allaying  the  excite- 
ment which  was  fast  arising,  the  authorities  gave  the  cause 
of  death  as  bilious  fever,  but  they  refused  permission  to 
take  the  remains  to  Charleston. 

On  the  third  day  of  her  husband's  illness,  Mrs.  Glover 
(now  Mrs.  Eddy)  sent  for  the  distinguished  physician  who 
attended  cases  of  this  terrible  disease  as  an  expert  (Dr. 
McRee  we  think  it  was),  and  was  told  by  him  that  he  could 
not  conceal  the  fact  that  the  case  was  one  of  yellow  fever 
in  its  worst  form,  and  nothing  could  save  the  life  of 
her  husband.  In  these  nine  days  and  nights  of  agony 
the  young  wife  prayed  incessantly  for  her  husband's 
recovery,  and  was  told  by  the  expert  physician  that 


336  MISCELLANY 

but  for  her  prayers  the  patient  would  have  died  on 
the  seventh  day. 

The  disease  spread  so  rapidly  that  Mrs.  Glover  (Mrs. 
Eddy)  was  afraid  to  have  her  brother,  George  S.  Baker, 
come  to  her  after  her  husband's  death,  to  take  her  back  to 
the  North.  Although  he  desired  to  go  to  her  assistance, 
she  declined  on  this  ground,  and  entrusted  herself  to  the 
care  of  her  husband's  Masonic  brethren,  who  faithfully 
performed  their  obligation  to  her.  She  makes  grateful 
acknowledgment  of  this  in  her  book,  "  Retrospection  and 
Introspection."  In  this  book  (p.  20)  she  also  states, 
"After  returning  to  the  paternal  roof  I  lost  all  my  hus- 
band's property,  except  what  money  I  had  brought 
with  me;  and  remained  with  my  parents  until  after 
my  mother's  decease."  Mr.  Glover  had  made  no  will 
previous  to  his  last  illness,  and  then  the  seizure  of  dis- 
ease was  so  sudden  and  so  violent  that  he  was  unable 
to  make  a  will. 

These  letters  and  extracts  are  of  absorbing  interest  to 
Christian  Scientists  as  amplification  of  the  facts  given  by 
Mrs.  Eddy  in  "Retrospection  and  Introspection." 


CHAPTER  XX 

GENERAL   MISCELLANY 

[Boston  Herald,  Sunday,  May  15,  1898] 
The  United  States  to  Great  Britain 


H 


AIL,  brother!  fling  thy  banner 
To  the  billows  and  the  breeze; 
We  proffer  thee  warm  welcome 

With  our  hand,  though  not  our  knees. 


Lord  of  the  main  and  manor! 

Thy  palm,  in  ancient  day, 
Didst  rock  the  country's  cradle 

That  wakes  thy  laureate's  lay. 

The  hoar  fight  is  forgotten; 

Our  eagle,  like  the  dove, 
Returns  to  bless  a  bridal 

Betokened  from  above. 

List,  brother!  angels  whisper 
To  Judah's  sceptred  race,  — 

"Thou  of  the  self-same  spirit, 
Allied  by  nations'  grace, 

"Wouldst  cheer  the  hosts  of  heaven; 

For  Anglo-Israel,  lo ! 
Is  marching  under  orders; 

His  hand  averts  the  blow." 
337 


338  MISgELLANY 

Brave  Britain,  blest  America! 

Unite  your  battle-plan; 
Victorious,  all  who  live  it,  — 

The  love  for  God  and  man. 


To  THE  Public 

The  following  views  of  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy 
upon  the  subject  of  the  Trinity,  are  known  to  us  to  be 
those  uniformly  held  and  expressed  by  her.  A  reference 
to  her  writings  will  fully  corroborate  this  statement.  — 
Editor  Sentinel. 

The  contents  of  the  last  lecture  of  our  dear  brother, 
on  the  subject  "The  Unknown  God  Made  Known," 
were  unknown  to  me  till  after  the  lecture  was  delivered 
in  Boston,  April  5. 

The  members  of  the  Board  of  Lectureship  are  not 
allowed  to  consult  me  relative  to  their  subjects  or  the 
handling  thereof,  owing  to  my  busy  life,  and  they  seek  a 
higher  source  for  wisdom  and  guidance.  The  talented 
author  of  this  lecture  has  a  heart  full  of  love  towards 
God  and  man.  For  once  he  may  have  overlooked  the 
construction  that  people  unfamiliar  with  his  broad 
views  and  loving  nature  might  put  on  his  comparisons 
and  ready  humor.  But  all  Christian  Scientists  deeply 
recognize  the  oneness  of  Jesus  —  that  he  stands  alone 
in  word  and  deed,  the  visible  discoverer,  founder,  de- 
monstrator, and  great  Teacher  of  Christianity,  whose 
sandals  none  may  unloose. 

The  Board  of  Lectureship  is  absolutely  inclined  to 
be,  and  is  instructed  to  be,  charitable  towards  all,  and 


FAST  DAY  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE,  1899    339 

hating  none.  The  purpose  of  its  members  is  to  sub- 
serve the  interest  of  mankind,  and  to  cement  the  bonds 
of  Christian  brotherhood,  whose  every  hnk  leads  up- 
ward in  the  chain  of  being.  The  cardinal  points  of 
Christian  Science  cannot  be  lost  sight  of,  namely  —  one 
God,  supreme,  infinite,  and  one  Christ  Jesus. 

The  Board  of  Lectureship  is  specially  requested  to  be 
wise  in  discoursing  on  the  great  subject  of  Christian 
Science. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


Fast  Day  in  New  Hampshire,  1899 

Along  the  lines  of  progressive  Christendom,  New 
Hampshire's  advancement  is  marked.  Already  Massa- 
chusetts has  exchanged  Fast  Day,  and  all  that  it  for- 
merly signified,  for  Patriots'  Day,  and  the  observance 
of  the  holiday  illustrates  the  joy,  grace,  and  glory  of  lib- 
erty. We  read  in  Holy  Writ  that  the  disciples  of  St. 
John  the  Baptist  said  to  the  great  Master,  "  Why  do  we 
and  the  Pharisees  fast  oft,  but  thy  disciples  fast  not?" 
And  he  answered  them  in  substance:  My  disciples 
rejoice  in  their  present  Christianity  and  have  no  cause 
to  mourn;  only  those  who  have  not  the  Christ,  Truth, 
within  them  should  wear  sackcloth. 

Jesus  said  to  his  disciples,  "  This  kind  goeth  not  out  but 
by  prayer  and  fasting,"  but  he  did  not  appoint  a  fast. 
Merely  to  abstain  from  eating  was  not  sufficient  to  meet 
his  demand.  The  animus  of  his  saying  was:  Silence 
appetites,  passion,  and  all  that  wars  against  Spirit  and 
spiritual  power.  The  fact  that  he  healed  the  sick  man 
without  the  observance  of  a  material  fast  confirms  this 


340  MISCELLANY 

conclusion.  Jesus  attended  feasts,  but  we  have  no  record 
of  his  observing  appointed  fasts. 

St.  Paul's  days  for  prayer  were  every  day  and  every 
hour.  He  said,  "Pray  without  ceasing."  He  classed 
the  usage  of  special  days  and  seasons  for  religious  ob- 
servances and  precedents  as  belonging  not  to  the  Chris- 
tian era,  but  to  traditions,  old-wives'  fables,  and  endless 
genealogies. 

The  enlightenment,  the  erudition,  the  progress  of  relig- 
ion and  medicine  in  New  Hampshire,  are  in  excess  of 
other  States,  as  witness  her  schools,  her  churches,  and 
her  frown  on  class  legislation.  In  many  of  the  States 
in  our  Union  a  simple  board  of  health,  clad  in  a  little 
brief  authority,  has  arrogated  to  itself  the  prerogative 
of  making  laws  for  the  State  on  the  practice  of  medicine  I 
But  this  attempt  is  shorn  of  some  of  its  shamelessness  by 
the  courts  immediately  annulling  such  bills  and  pluck- 
ing their  plumes  through  constitutional  interpretations. 
Not  the  tradition  of  the  elders,  nor  a  paltering,  timid, 
or  dastardly  policy,  is  pursued  by  the  leaders  of  our  rock- 
ribbed  State. 

That  the  Governor  of  New  Hampshire  has  suggested  to 
his  constituents  to  recur  to  a  religious  observance  which 
virtually  belongs  to  the  past,  should  tend  to  enhance  their 
confidence  in  his  intention  to  rule  righteously  the  affairs 
of  state.  However,  Jesus'  example  in  this,  as  in  all  else, 
suffices  for  the  Christian  era.  The  dark  days  of  our  fore- 
fathers and  their  implorations  for  peace  and  plenty  have 
passed,  and  are  succeeded  by  our  time  of  abundance,  even 
the  full  beneficence  of  the  laws  of  the  universe  which 
man's  diligence  has  utilized.  Institutions  of  learning  and 
progressive  religion  light  their  fires  in  every  home. 


MRS.   EDDY  TALKS  341 

I  have  one  innate  joy,  and  love  to  breathe  it  to  the 
breeze  as  God's  courtesy.  A  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
a  child  of  the  Republic,  a  Daughter  of  the  Revolution,  I 
thank  God  that  He  has  emblazoned  on  the  escutcheon 
of  this  State,  engraven  on  her  granite  rocks,  and  lifted 
to  her  giant  hills  the  ensign  of  reUgious  Uberty  —  "  Free- 
dom to  worship  God." 

Spring  Greeting 

Beloved  brethren  all  over  our  land  and  in  every  land, 
accept  your  Leader's  Spring  greeting,  while 

The  bird  of  hope  is  singing 
A  lightsome  lay,  a  cooing  call. 
And  in  her  heart  is  beating 
A  love  for  all  — 
"'Tis  peace  not  power  I  seek, 
'Tis  meet  that  man  be  meek." 


[New  York  Herald,  May  1,  1901] 
[Extract] 

Mrs.  Eddy  Talks 

Christian  Science  has  been  so  much  to  the  fore  of  late 
that  unusual  public  interest  centres  in  the  personality 
of  Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy,  the  Founder  of  the  cult. 
The  granting  of  interviews  is  not  usual,  hence  it  was 
a  special  favor  that  Mrs.  Eddy  received  the  Herald 
correspondent. 

It  had  been  raining  all  day  and  was  damp  without,  so 
the  change  from  the  misty  air  outside  to  the  pleasant 


342  MISCELLANY 

warmth  within  the  ample,  richly  furnished  house  was 
agreeable.  Seated  in  the  large  parlor,  I  became  aware 
of  a  white-haired  lady  slowly  descending  the  stairs. 
She  entered  with  a  gracious  smile,  walking  uprightly  and 
with  light  step,  and  after  a  kindly  greeting  took  a  seat 
on  a  sofa.  It  was  Mrs.  Eddy.  There  was  no  mis- 
taking that.  Older  in  years,  white-haired  and  frailer, 
but  Mrs.  Eddy  herself.  The  likeness  to  the  portraits 
of  twenty  years  ago,  so  often  seen  in  reproductions,  was 
unmistakable.  There  is  no  mistaking  certain  lines  that 
depend  upon  the  osseous  structure;  there  is  no  mistaking 
the  eyes  —  those  eyes  the  shade  of  which  is  so  hard  to 
catch,  whether  blue-gray  or  grayish  brown,  and  which 
are  always  bright.  And  when  I  say  frail,  let  it  not  be 
understood  that  I  mean  weak,  for  weak  she  was  not. 
When  we  were  snugly  seated  in  the  other  and  smaller 
parlor  across  the  hall,  which  serves  as  a  library,  Mrs. 
Eddy  sat  back  to  be  questioned. 

"The  continuity  of  The  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist," 
she  said,  in  her  clear  voice,  "is  assured.  It  is  growing 
wonderfully.  It  will  embrace  all  the  churches,  one  by 
one,  because  in  it  alone  is  the  simplicity  of  the  oneness 
of  God;  the  oneness  of  Christ  and  the  perfecting  of  man 
stated  scientifically." 

"How  will  it  be  governed  after  all  now  concerned  in 
its  government  shall  have  passed  on?" 

"  It  will  evolve  scientifically.  Its  essence  is  evangelical. 
Its  government  will  develop  as  it  progresses." 

"Will  there  be  a  hierarchy,  or  will  it  be  directed  by  a 
single  earthly  ruler?" 

"In  time  its  present  rules  of  service  and  present  ruler- 
ship  will  advance  nearer  perfection." 


MRS.  EDDY  TALKS  343 

It  was  plain  that  the  answers  to  questions  would  be 
in  Mrs.  Eddy's  own  spirit.  She  has  a  rapt  way  of  talk- 
ing,- looking  large-eyed  into  space,  and  works  around  a 
question  in  her  own  way,  reaching  an  answer  often 
unexpectedly  after  a  prolonged  exordium.  She  explained: 
"No  present  change  is  contemplated  in  the  rulership. 
You  would  ask,  perhaps,  whether  my  successor  will  be  a 
,  woman  or  a  man.    I  can  answer  that.    It  will  be  a  man." 

"Can  you  name  the  man?" 

"I  cannot  answer  that  now." 

Here,  then,  was  the  definite  statement  that  Mrs.  Eddy's 
immediate  successor  would,  like  herself,  be  the  ruler. 


NOT  A  POPE  OR  A  CHRIST 

"I  have  been  called  a  pope,  but  surely  I  have  sought 
no  such  distinction.  I  have  simply  taught  as  I  learned 
while  healing  the  sick.  It  was  in  1866  that  the  hght  of 
the  Science  came  first  to  me.  In  1875  I  wrote  my  book. 
It  brought  down  a  shower  of  abuse  upon  my  head,  but 
it  won  converts  from  the  first.  I  followed  it  up,  teaching 
and  organizing,  and  trust  in  me  grew.  I  was  the  mother, 
but  of  course  the  term  pope  is  used  figuratively. 

"A  position  of  authority,"  she  went  on,  "became 
necessary.  Rules  were  necessary,  and  I  made  a  code  of 
by-laws,  but  each  one  was  the  fruit  of  experience  and  the 
result  of  prayer.  Entrusting  their  enforcement  to  others, 
I  found  at  one  time  that  they  had  five  churches  under 
discipline.  I  intervened.  Dissensions  are  dangerous  in 
an  infant  church.  I  wrote  to  each  church  in  tenderness, 
in  exhortation,  and  in  rebuke,  and  so  brought  all  back  to 
union  and  love  again.     If  that  is  to  be  a  pope,  then  you 


344  MISCELLANY 

can  judge  for  yourself.  I  have  even  been  spoken  of  as  a 
Christ,  but  to  my  understanding  of  Christ  that  is  impos- 
sible. If  we  say  that  the  sun  stands  for  God,  then  all  his 
rays  collectively  stand  for  Christ,  and  each  separate  ray 
for  men  and  women.  God  the  Father  is  greater  than 
Christ,  but  Christ  is  'one  with  the  Father,'  and  so  the 
mystery  is  scientifically  explained.  There  can  be  but 
one  Christ." 

"And  the  soul  of  man?" 

"It  is  not  the  spirit  of  God,  inhabiting  clay  and  then 
withdrawn  from  it,  but  God  preserving  individuality  and 
personality  to  the  end.  I  hold  it  absurd  to  say  that  when 
a  man  dies,  the  man  will  be  at  once  better  than  he  was 
before  death.  How  can  it  be?  The  individuality  of  him 
must  make  gradual  approaches  to  Soul's  perfection." 

"Do  you  reject  utterly  the  bacteria  theory  of  the 
propagation  of  disease?" 

"Oh,"  with  a  prolonged  inflection,  "entirely.  If  I 
harbored  that  idea  about  a  disease,  I  should  think  myself 
in  danger  of  catching  it." 

ABOUT  INFECTIOUS  DISEASES 

"  Then  as  to  the  laws  —  the  health  laws  of  the  States 
on  the  question  of  infectious  and  contagious  diseases. 
How  does  Christian  Science  stand  as  to  them?" 

"  I  say,  '  Render  to  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's.' 
We  cannot  force  perfection  on  the  world.  Were  vaccina- 
tion of  any  avail,  I  should  tremble  for  mankind;  but, 
knowing  it  is  not,  and  that  the  fear  of  catching  small- 
pox is  more  dangerous  than  any  material  infection,  I 
say:  Where  vaccination  is  compulsory,  let  your  children 


MRS.  EDDY  TALKS  345 

be  vaccinated,  and  see  that  your  mind  is  in  such  a  state 
that  by  your  prayers  vaccination  will  do  the  children  no 
harm.  So  long  as  Christian  Scientists  obey  the  laws,  I 
do  not  suppose  their  mental  reservations  will  be  thought 
to  matter  much.  But  every  thought  tells,  and  Christian 
Science  vnll  overthrow  false  knowledge  in  the  end." 

"  WTiat  is  your  attitude  to  science  in  general?  Do  you 
oppose  it?" 

"Not,"  \\ith  a  smile,  "if  it  is  really  science." 

"  Well,  electricity,  engineering,  the  telephone,  the  steam 
engine  —  are  these  too  material  for  Christian  Science?" 

"No;  only  false  science  —  healing  by  drugs.  I  was  a 
sickly  child.  I  was  dosed  with  drugs  until  they  had  no 
effect  on  me.  The  doctors  said  I  would  live  if  the  drugs 
could  be  made  to  act  on  me.  Then  homoeopathy  came 
like  blessed  relief  to  me,  but  I  found  that  when  I  pre- 
scribed pellets  without  any  medication  they  acted  just 
the  same  and  healed  the  sick.  How  could  I  believe  in 
a  science  of  drugs?" 

"But  surgery?" 

"The  work  done  by  the  surgeon  is  the  last  healing  that 
will  be  vouchsafed  to  us,  or  rather  attained  by  us,  as  we 
near  a  state  of  spiritual  perfection.  At  present  I  am 
conservative  about  advice  on  surgical  cases." 

"But  the  pursuit  of  modem  material  inventions?" 

"Oh,  we  cannot  oppose  them.  They  all  tend  to  newer, 
finer,  more  ethereahzed  ways  of  living.  They  seek  the  finer 
essences.  They  light  the  way  to  the  Church  of  Christ. 
We  use  them,  we  make  them  our  figures  of  speech. 
They  are  preparing  the  way  for  us." 

We  talked  on  many  subjects,  some  only  of  which  are 
here  touched  upon,  and  her  views,  strictly  and  always 


346  MISCELLANY 

from  the  standpoint  of  Christian  Science,  were  continu- 
ally surprising.  She  talks  as  one  who  has  hved  with  her 
subject  for  a  Hfetime,  —  an  ordinary  Ufetime;  and  so 
far  from  being  puzzled  by  any  question,  welcomes  it  as 
another  opportunity  for  presenting  another  view  of  her 
religion. 

Those  who  have  been  anticipating  nature  and  declaring 
Mrs.  Eddy  non-existent  may  learn  authoritatively  from 
the  Herald  that  she  is  in  the  flesh  and  in  health.  Soon 
after  I  reached  Concord  on  my  return  from  Pleasant 
View,  Mrs.  Eddy's  carriage  drove  into  town  and  made 
several  turns  about  the  court-house  before  returning. 
She  was  inside,  and  as  she  passed  me  the  same  ex- 
pression of  looking  forward,  thinking,  thinking,  was  on 
her  face. 

Concord,  N.  H., 
Tuesday,  April  30,  1901. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Successor 

In  a  recent  interview  which  appeared  in  the  columns 
of  the  New  York  Herald,  the  Rev.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
Discoverer  and  Founder  of  Christian  Science,  stated  that 
her  successor  would  be  a  man.  Various  conjectures 
having  arisen  as  to  whether  she  had  in  mind  any  particu- 
lar person  when  the  statement  was  made,  Mrs.  Eddy 
gave  the  following  to  the  Associated  Press,  May  16, 
1901 : — 

"I  did  say  that  a  man  would  be  my  future  successor. 
By  this  I  did  not  mean  any  man  to-day  on  earth. 

"Science  and  Health  makes  it  plain  to  all  Christian 
Scientists  that  the  manhood  and  womanhood  of  God 


FUNDAMENTAL  CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE     347 

have  already  been  revealed  in  a  degree  through  Christ 
Jesus  and  Christian  Science,  His  two  witnesses.  What 
remains  to  lead  on  the  centuries  and  reveal  my  successor, 
is  man  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  the  Father-Mother 
God,  man  the  generic  term  for  mankind." 

Gift  of  a  Loving-cup 

The  Executive  Members  of  The  Mother  Church  of 
Christ,  Scientist,  will  please  accept  my  heartfelt  acknowl- 
edgment of  their  beautiful  gift  to  me,  a  loving-cup,  pre- 
sented July  16,  1903.  The  exquisite  design  of  boughs 
encircling  this  cup,  illustrated  by  Keats'  touching  couplet, 

Ah  happy,  happy  boughs,  that  cannot  shed 
Your  leaves,  nor  ever  bid  the  Spring  adieu! 

would  almost  suggest  that  nature  had  reproduced  her 
primal  presence,  bough,  bird,  and  song,  to  salute  me. 
The  twelve  beautiful  pearis  that  crown  this  cup  call  to 
mind  the  number  of  our  great  Master's  first  disciples,  and 
the  parable  of  the  priceless  pearl  which  purchases  our 
field  of  labor  in  exchange  for  all  else. 

I  shall  treasure  my  loving-cup  with  all  its  sweet 
associations. 

[Sf)ecial  contribution  to  "  Bohemia."     A  symposium.] 

Fundamental  Christian  Science 

Most  thinkers  concede  that  Science  is  the  law  of  God; 
that  matter  is  not  a  law-maker;  that  man  is  not  the 
author  of  Science,  and  that  a  phenomenon  is  chimerical, 
unless  it  be  the  manifestation  of  a  fixed  Principle  whose 
noumenon  is  God  and  whose  phenomenon  is  Science. 


348  MISCELLANY 

My  discovery  that  mankind  is  absolutely  healed  of  so- 
called  disease  and  injuries  by  other  than  drugs,  surgery, 
hygiene,  electricity,  magnetism,  or  will-power,  induced  a 
deep  research,  which  proved  conclusively  that  all  effect 
must  be  the  offspring  of  a  universal  cause.  I  sought  this 
cause,  not  within  but  ah  extra,  and  I  found  it  was  God 
made  manifest  in  the  flesh,  and  understood  through  divine 
Science.  Then  I  was  healed,  and  the  greatest  of  all  ques- 
tions was  solved  sufficiently  to  give  a  reason  for  the  hope 
that  was  within  me. 

The  religious  departure  from  divine  Science  sprang  from 
the  belief  that  the  man  Jesus,  rather  than  his  divine  Prin- 
ciple, God,  saves  man,  and  that  materia  medica  heals  him. 
The  writer's  departure  from  such  a  religion  was  based  upon 
her  discovery  that  neither  man  nor  materia  medica,  but 
God,  heals  and  saves  mankind. 

Here,  however,  was  no  stopping-place,  since  Science 
demanded  a  rational  proof  that  the  divine  Mind  heals 
the  sick  and  saves  the  sinner.  God  unfolded  the  way,  the 
demonstration  thereof  was  made,  and  the  certainty  of  its 
value  to  the  race  firmly  established.  I  had  found  unmis- 
takably an  actual,  unfailing  causation,  enshrined  in  the 
divine  Principle  and  in  the  laws  of  man  and  the  universe, 
which,  never  producing  an  opposite  effect,  demonstrated 
Christianity  and  proved  itself  Science,  for  it  healed  the 
sick  and  reformed  the  sinner  on  a  demonstrable  Principle 
and  given  rule.  The  human  demonstrator  of  this  Science 
may  mistake,  but  the  Science  remains  the  law  of  God — 
infallible,  eternal.  Divine  Life,  Truth,  Love  is  the  basic 
Principle  of  all  Science,  it  solves  the  problem  of  being; 
and  nothing  that  worketh  ill  can  enter  into  the  solution 
of  God's  problems. 


FUNDAMENTAL  CHRISTIAN  SCIENCE     349 

God  is  IMind,  and  divine  Mind  was  first  chronologi- 
cally, is  first  potentially,  and  is  the  healer  to  whom  all 
things  are  possible.  A  scientific  state  of  health  is  a 
consciousness  of  health,  holiness,  immortality  —  a  con- 
sciousness gained  through  Christ,  Truth;  while  disease 
is  a  mental  state  or  error  that  Truth  destroys.  It  is  self- 
evident  that  matter,  or  the  body,  cannot  cause  disease, 
since  disease  is  in  a  sense  susceptible  of  both  ease  and 
dis-ease,  and  matter  is  not  sensible.  Kant,  Locke,  Berke- 
ley, Tyndall,  and  Spencer  afford  little  aid  in  understand- 
ing divine  metaphysics  or  its  therapeutics.  Christian 
Science  is  a  divine  largess,  a  gift  of  God  —  understood 
by  and  divinely  natural  to  him  who  sits  at  the  feet  of 
Jesus  clothed  in  truth,  who  is  putting  off  the  hypothesis 
of  matter  because  he  is  conscious  of  the  allness  of  God — 
"looking  unto  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.'* 
Thus  the  great  Way-shower,  invested  with  glory,  is  under- 
stood, and  his  words  and  works  illustrate  "the  way,  the 
truth,  and  the  life." 

Divine  modes  or  manifestations  are  natural,  beyond 
the  so-called  natural  sciences  and  human  philosophy, 
because  they  are  spiritual,  and  coexist  with  the  God  of 
nature  in  absolute  Science.  The  laws  of  God,  or  divine 
Mind,  obtain  not  in  material  phenomena,  or  phenomenal 
evil,  which  is  lawless  and  traceable  to  mortal  mind  — 
human  will  divorced  from  Science. 

Inductive  or  deductive  reasoning  is  correct  only  as  it 
is  spiritual,  induced  by  love  and  deduced  from  God, 
Spirit;  only  as  it  makes  manifest  the  infinite  nature, 
including  air  law  and  supplying  all  the  needs  of  man. 
Wholly  hjTpothetical,  inductive  reasoning  reckons  creation 
as  its  own  creator,  seeks  cause  in  effect,  and  from  atom 


350  MISCELLANY 

and  dust  draws  its  conclusions  of  Deity  and  man,  law  and 
gospel,  leaving  science  at  the  beck  of  material  phenomena, 
or  leaving  it  out  of  the  question.  To  begin  with  the 
divine  noumenon.  Mind,  and  to  end  with  the  phenom- 
enon, matter,  is  minus  divine  logic  and  plus  human  hy- 
pothesis, with  its  effects,  sin,  disease,  and  death.  It  was 
in  this  dilemma  that  revelation,  uplifting  human  reason, 
came  to  the  writer's  rescue,  when  calmly  and  rationally, 
though  faintly,  she  spiritually  discerned  the  divine  idea 
of  the  cosmos  and  Science  of  man. 


Whither? 

Father,  did'st  not  Thou  the  dark  wave  treading 

Lift  from  despair  the  struggler  with  the  sea? 

And  heed'st  Thou  not  the  scalding  tear  man's  shedding, 

And  know'st  Thou  not  the  pathway  glad  and  free? 

This  weight  of  anguish  which  they  blindly  bind 
On  earth,  this  bitter  searing  to  the  core  of  love; 
This  crushing  out  of  health  and  peace,  mankind  — 
Thou  all.  Thou  infinite  —  dost  doom  above. 

Oft  mortal  sense  is  darkened  unto  death 
(The  Stygian  shadow  of  a  world  of  glee) ; 
The  old  foundations  of  an  early  faith 
Sunk  from  beneath  man,  whither  shall  he  flee? 

To  Love  divine,  whose  kindling  mighty  rays 
Brighten  the  horoscope  of  crumbling  creeds. 
Dawn  Truth  delightful,  crowned  with  endless  days, 
And  Science  ripe  in  prayer,  in  word,  and  deeds. 


TAKE  NOTICE  351 

A  Letter  from  our  Leader 

With  our  Leader's  kind  permission,  the  Sentinel  is 
privileged  to  publish  her  letter  of  recent  date,  addressed 
to  Mr.  John  C.  Higdon  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  This  letter 
is  especially  interesting  on  account  of  its  beautiful  tribute 
to  Free  Masonry. 

Beloved  Student :  —  Your  interesting  letter  was  handed 
to  me  duly.  This  is  my  earliest  moment  in  which  to 
answer  it. 

"Know  Thyself,"  the  title  of  your  gem  quoted,  is 
indeed  a  divine  command,  for  the  rnorale  of  Free  Masonry 
is  above  ethics  —  it  touches  the  hem  of  his  garment 
who  spake  divinely. 

It  was  truly  Masonic,  tender,  grand  in  you  to  remember 
me  as  the  widow  of  a  Mason.  May  you  and  I  and  all 
mankind  meet  in  that  hour  of  Soul  where  are  no  part- 
ings, no  pain. 

Lovingly  yours  in  Christ, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Pleasant  View,  Concord,  N.  H., 
February  9,  1906. 

Take  Notice 

I  have  not  read  Gerhardt  C.  Mars'  book,  "The  Inter- 
pretation of  Life,"  therefore  I  have  not  endorsed  it,  and 
any  assertions  to  the  contrary  are  false.  Christian  Scien- 
tists are  not  concerned  with  philosophy;  divine  Science 
is  all  they  need,  or  can  have  in  reality. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
June  24,  1908. 


352  MISCELLANY 

Recognition  of  Blessings 

Reverend  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
Chestnut  Hill,  Mass. 

Beloved  Leader:  —  Informally  assembled,  we,  the  ushers 
of  your  church,  desire  to  express  our  recognition  of  the 
blessings  that  have  come  to  us  through  the  peculiar  priv- 
ileges we  enjoy  in  this  church  work.  We  are  prompted 
to  acknowledge  our  debt  of  gratitude  to  you  for  your 
life  of  spirituality,  with  its  years  of  tender  ministry,  yet 
we  know  that  the  real  gratitude  is  what  is  proved  in 
better  lives. 

It  is  our  earnest  prayer  that  we  may  so  reflect  in  our 
thoughts  and  acts  the  teachings  of  Christian  Science  that 
our  daily  living  may  be  a  fitting  testimony  of  the  efficacy 
of  our  Cause  in  the  regeneration  of  mankind. 

The  Ushers  of  The  Mother  Church. 

Boston,  Mass.,  October  9,  1908. 

MRS.   eddy's  reply 

Beloved  Ushers  of  The  Mother  Church  of  Christ,  Sei- 

entist :  —  I  thank  you  not  only  for  your  tender  letter  to 

me,  but  for  ushering  into  our  church  the  hearers  and  the 

doers  of  God's  Word.  ^^         ^  _, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 

October  12,  1908. 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Thanks 

Beloved  Christian  Scientists:  —  Accept  my  thanks  for 
your  successful  plans  for  the  first  issue  of  The  Christian 
Science   Monitor.    My   desire   is   that    every   Christian 


ARTICLE  XXIL,  SECTION  17  353 

Scientist,  and  as  many  others  as  possible,  subscribe  for 
and  read  our  daily  newspaper. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
November  16,  1908. 


[Extract  from  the  leading  Editorial  in  Vol.  1,  No.  1,  of  The 
Christian  Science  Monitor,  November  25,  19081 

Something  in  a  Name 

I  have  given  the  name  to  all  the  Christian  Science 
periodicals.  The  first  was  The  Christian  Science  Jour- 
nal, designed  to  put  on  record  the  divine  Science  of 
Truth;  the  second  I  entitled  Sentinel,  intended  to  hold 
guard  over  Truth,  Life,  and  Love;  the  third,  Der  Herold 
der  Christian  Science,  to  proclaim  the  universal  activity 
and  availability  of  Truth;  the  next  I  named  Monitor, 
to  spread  undivided  the  Science  that  operates  unspent. 
The  object  of  the  Monitor  is  to  injure  no  man,  but  to 
bless  all  mankind. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Article  XXIL,  Section  17 

Mrs.  Eddy's  Room.  —  Section  17.  The  room  in 
The  Mother  Church  formerly  known  as  "Mother's 
Room,"  shall  hereafter  be  closed  to  visitors. 

There  is  nothing  in  this  room  now  of  any  special  in- 
terest. "  Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead,"  and  the  spiritual 
have  all  place  and  power. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


354  MISCELLANY 

To  Whom  It  May  Concern 

In  view  of  complaints  from  the  jBeld,  because  of  alleged 

misrepresentations  by  persons  offering  Bibles  and  other 

books  for  sale  which  they  claim  have  been  endorsed  by 

me,  it  is  due  the  field  to  state  that  I  recommend  nothing 

but  what  is  published  or  sold  by  The  Christian  Science 

Publishing  Society.     Christian  Scientists  are  under  no 

obligation  to   buy  books  for   which  my  endorsement  is 

claimed.  ti^         t>  t^ 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 

April  28,  1909. 

Extempore 
January  1,  1910 


O  blessings  infinite! 

O  glad  New  Year! 
Sweet  sign  and  substance 

Of  God's  presence  here. 

n 
Give  us  not  only  angels'  songs, 

But  Science  vast,  to  which  belongs 
The  tongue  of  angels 

And  the  song  of  songs. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

[The  above  lines  were  written  extemporaneously  by 
Mrs.  Eddy  on  New  Year's  morning.     The  members  of  her 


A  P.EAN  OF  PRAISE  355 

household  were  with  her  at  the  time,  and  it  was  gratifying 
to  them,  as  it  will  be  to  the  field,  to  see  in  her  spiritualized 
thought  and  mental  vigor  a  symbol  of  the  glad  New  Year 
on  which  we  have  just  entered.  —  Editor  Sentinel.] 

Men  in  our  Ranks 

A  letter  from  a  student  in  the  field  says  there  is  a  grave 
need  for  more  men  in  Christian  Science  practice. 

I  have  not  infrequently  hinted  at  this.  However,  if 
the  occasion  demands  it,  I  \^dll  repeat  that  men  are  very 
important  factors  in  our  field  of  labor  for  Christian 
Science,  The  male  element  is  a  strong  supporting  arm 
to  religion  as  well  as  to  politics,  and  we  need  in  our  ranks 
of  divine  energy,  the  strong,  the  faithful,  the  untiring 
spiritual  armament. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 
February  7,  1910. 

A  Fman  of  Praise 

"  Behind  a  frowning  providence 
He  hides  a  shining  face." 

The  Christian  Scientists  at  Mrs.  Eddy's  home  are 
the  happiest  group  on  earth.  Their  faces  shine  with 
the  reflection  of  light  and  love;  their  footsteps  are  not 
weary;  their  thoughts  are  upward;  their  way  is  onward, 
and  their  light  shines.  The  world  is  better  for  this 
happy  group  of  Christian  Scientists;  Mrs.  Eddy  is  hap- 
pier because  of  them;  God  is  glorified  in  His  reflection 
of  peace,  love,  joy. 


356  MISCELLANY 

When  will  mankind  awake  to  know  their  present  owner- 
ship of  all  good,  and  praise  and  love  the  spot  where  God 
dwells  most  conspicuously  in  His  reflection  of  love  and 
leadership?  When  will  the  world  waken  to  the  privilege 
of  knowing  God,  the  liberty  and  glory  of  His  presence, 
—  where 

"  He  plants  His  footsteps  in  the  sea 
And  rides  upon  the  storm." 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 
April  20,  1910. 

A  Statement  by  Mrs.  Eddy 

Editor  Christian  Science  Sentinel :  —  In  reply  to  in- 
quiries, will  you  please  state  that  within  the  last  five 
years  I  have  given  no  assurance,  no  encouragement  nor 
consent  to  have  my  picture  issued,  other  than  the  ones 
now  and  heretofore  presented  in  Science  and  Health. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 
July  18,  1910. 

The  Way  of  Wisdom 

No  man  can  serve  two  masters:  for  either  he  will  hate  the  one, 
and  love  the  other;  or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one,  and  despise  the 
other.     Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon,  —  ^Iatthew  6  :  24. 

The  infinite  is  one,  and  this  one  is  Spirit;  Spirit  is 
God,  and  this  God  is  infinite  good. 

This  simple  statement  of  oneness  is  the  only  possible 
correct  version  of  Christian  Science.     God  being  infinite, 


A  LETTER  BY  MRS.  EDDY  357 

He  is  the  only  basis  of  Science;  hence  materiaUty  is  wholly 
apart  from  Christian  Science,  and  is  only  a  "  Suffer  it  to 
be  so  now  "  until  we  arrive  at  the  spiritual  fulness  of  God, 
Spirit,  even  the  divine  idea  of  Christian  Science,  — 
Christ,  born  of  God,  the  offspring  of  Spirit,  —  wherein 
matter  has  neither  part  nor  portion,  because  matter  is  the 
absolute  opposite  of  spiritual  means,  manifestation,  and 
demonstration.  The  only  incentive  of  a  mistaken  sense 
is  malicious  animal  magnetism,  —  the  name  of  all  evil,  — 
and  this  must  be  understood. 

I  have  crowned  The  Mother  Church  building  with  the 
spiritual  modesty  of  Christian  Science,  which  is  its  jewel. 
When  my  dear  brethren  in  New  York  desire  to  build 
higher,  —  to  enlarge  their  phylacteries  and  demonstrate 
Christian  Science  to  a  higher  extent,  —  they  must  begin 
on  a  wholly  spiritual  foundation,  than  which  there  is  no 
other,  and  proportionably  estimate  their  success  and 
glory  of  achievement  only  as  they  build  upon  the  rock  of 
Christ,  the  spiritual  foundation.  This  will  open  the  way, 
widely  and  impartially,  to  their  never-ending  success,  — 
to  salvation  and  eternal  Christian  Science. 

Spirit  is  infinite;  therefore  Spirit  is  all.  "There  is  no 
matter"  is  not  only  the  axiom  of  true  Christian  Science, 
but  it  is  the  only  basis  upon  which  this  Science  can  be 
demonstrated. 

A  Letter  by  Mrs.  Eddy 

Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson,  New  York  City. 

Beloved  Student :  —  I  bave  just  finished  reading  your 
interesting  letter.  I  thank  you  for  acknowledging  me  as 
your  Leader,  and  I  know  that  every  true  follower  of 


358  MISCELLANY 

Christian  Science  abides  by  the  definite  rules  which  de- 
monstrate the  true  following  of  their  Leader;  therefore, 
if  you  are  sincere  in  your  protestations  and  are  doing  as 
you  say  you  are,  you  will  be  blessed  in  your  obedience. 

The  Scriptures  say,  "Watch  and  pray,  that  ye  enter 
not  into  temptation."  You  are  aware  that  animal  mag- 
netism is  the  opposite  of  divine  Science,  and  that  this 
opponent  is  the  means  whereby  the  conflict  against 
Truth  is  engendered  and  developed.  Beloved!  you  need 
to  watch  and  pray  that  the  enemy  of  good  cannot  separate 
you  from  your  Leader  and  best  earthly  friend. 

You  have  been  duly  informed  by  me  that,  however 
much  I  desire  to  read  all  that  you  send  to  me,  I  have  not 
the  time  to  do  so.  The  Christian  Science  Pubhshing 
Society  will  settle  the  question  whether  or  not  they  shall 
publish  your  poems.  It  is  part  of  their  duties  to  relieve 
me  of  so  much  labor. 

I  thank  you  for  the  money  you  send  me  which  was 
given  you  by  your  students.  I  shall  devote  it  to  a  worthy 
and  charitable  purpose. 

Mr.  Adam  Dickey  is  my  secretary,  through  whom  all 
my  business  is  transacted. 

Give  my  best  wishes  and  love  to  your  dear  students 
and  church. 

Lovingly  your  teacher  and  Leader, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Box  G,  Brookline,  Mass., 
July  12,  1909. 

Take  Notice 

I  approve  the  By-laws  of  The  Mother  Church,  and 
require  the  Christian  Science  Board  of  Directors  to  main- 


A  LETTER  FROM  MRS.   EDDY  359 

tain  them  and  sustain  them.  These  Directors  do  not 
act  contrary  to  the  rules  of  the  Church  Manual,  neither 
do  they  trouble  me  with  their  difficulties  with  individ- 
uals in  their  own  church  or  with  the  members  of  branch 
churches. 

My  province  as  a  Leader  —  as  the  Discoverer  and 
Founder  of  Christian  Science  —  is  not  to  interfere  in 
cases  of  discipline,  and  I  hereby  publicly  declare  that  I 
am  not  personally  involved  in  the  affairs  of  the  church  in 
any  other  way  than  through  my  written  and  published 
rules,  all  of  which  can  be  read  by  the  individual  who 
desires  to  inform  himself  of  the  facts. 

Brookline,  Mass.,  ^^^  B^^«  ^DDY. 

October  12,  1909. 

A  Letter  from  Mrs.  Eddy 

In  the  Sentinel  of  July  31,  1909,  there  appeared  under 
the  heading  "None  good  but  one,"  a  number  of  quota- 
tions from  a  composite  letter,  dated  July  19,  which  had 
been  written  to  Mrs.  Augusta  E.  Stetson  by  twenty-four 
of  her  students  who  then  occupied  oflSces  in  the  building 
of  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  of  New  York,  and 
were  known  as  "the  practitioners."  This  letter  was  for- 
warded to  Mrs.  Eddy  by  Mrs.  Stetson  with  the  latter's 
unqualified  approval.  Upon  receipt  of  this  letter  Mrs. 
Eddy  wrote  to  ]Mrs.  Stetson  as  follows:  — 

My  Dear  Student :  —  Awake  and  arise  from  this  temp- 
tation produced  by  animal  magnetism  upon  yourself, 
allowing  your  students  to  deify  you  and  me.  Treat  your- 
self for  it  and  get  your  students  to  help  you  rise  out  of  it. 


360  MISCELLANY 

It  will  be  your  destruction  if  you  do  not  do  this.    Answer 
this  letter  immediately. 

As  ever,  lovingly  your  teacher, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Brookline,  Mass., 
July  23,  1909. 

A  Letter  by  Mrs.  Eddy 

To  THE  Board  of  Trustees,  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
New  York  City. 

Beloved  Brethren :  —  In  consideration  of  the  present 
momentous  question  at  issue  in  First  Church  of  Christ, 
Scientist,  New  York  City,  I  am  constrained  to  say,  if  I 
can  settle  this  church  difficulty  amicably  by  a  few  words, 
as  many  students  think  I  can,  I  herewith  cheerfully 
subscribe  these  words  of  love :  — 

My  beloved  brethren  in  First  Church  of  Christ,  Sci- 
entist, New  York  City,  I  advise  you  with  all  my  soul  to 
support  the  Directors  of  The  Mother  Church,  and  unite 
with  those  in  your  church  who  are  supporting  The  Mother 
Church  Directors.  Abide  in  fellowship  with  and  obedi- 
ence to  The  Mother  Church,  and  in  this  way  God  will 
bless  and  prosper  you.  This  I  know,  for  He  has  proved 
it  to  me  for  forty  years  in  succession. 

Lovingly  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Brookline,  Mass., 
November  13,  1909. 

A  Letter  by  Mrs.  Eddy 

My  Dear  Student :  —  Your  favor  of  the  10th  instant  is 
at  hand.    God  is  above  your  teacher,  your  healer,  or  any 


A  TELEGRAM  361 

earthly  friend.  Follow  the  directions  of  God  as  simplified 
in  Christian  Science,  and  though  it  be  through  deserts 
He  will  direct  you  into  the  paths  of  peace. 

I  do  not  presume  to  give  you  personal  instruction  as 
to  your  relations  with  other  students.  All  I  say  is  stated 
in  Christian  Science  to  be  used  as  a  model.  Please  find 
it  there,  and  do  not  bring  your  Leader  into  a  personal 
conflict. 

I  have  not  seen  Mrs.  Stetson  for  over  a  year,  and  have 
not  written  to  her  since  August  30,  1909. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 

Brookline,  Mass., 
December  11,  1909. 


A  Telegram  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 
[Telegram] 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
Chestnut  Hill,  Mass. 

Beloved  Leader :  —  We  rejoice  that  our  church  has 
promptly  made  its  demonstration  by  action  at  its  annual 
meeting  in  accordance  with  your  desire  for  a  truly  demo- 
cratic and  liberal  government. 

Board  of  Trustees, 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

New  York,  N.  Y., 

Charles  Dean,  Chairman, 
Arthur  O.  Probst,  Clerk. 
New  York,  N.  Y., 
January  19,  1910. 


362  MISCELLANY 

MRS.   eddy's  reply 

Charles  A.  Dean,  Chairman  Board  of. Trustees, 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  New  York  City. 

Beloved  Brethren:  —  I  rejoice  with  you  in  the  victory  of 
right  over  wrong,  of  Truth  over  error. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 
Chestnut  Hill,  Mass., 
January  20,  1910. 


A  Letter  and  Mrs.  Eddy's  Reply 

Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Eddy, 
Chestnut  Hill,  Mass. 

Revered  Leader,  Counsellor,  and  Friend: — The  Trustees 
and  Readers  of  all  the  Christian  Science  churches  and 
societies  of  Greater  New  York,  for  the  first  time  gath- 
ered in  one  place  with  one  accord,  to  confer  harmoniously 
and  unitedly  in  promoting  and  enlarging  the  activities 
of  the  Cause  of  Christian  Science  in  this  community,  as 
their  first  act  send  you  their  loving  greetings. 

With  hearts  filled  with  gratitude  to  God,  we  rejoice  in 
your  inspired  leadership,  in  your  wise  counselling.  We 
revere  and  cherish  your  friendship,  and  assure  you  that 
it  is  our  intention  to  take  such  action  as  will  unite  the 
churches  and  societies  in  this  field  in  the  bonds  of  Chris- 
tian love  and  fellowship,  thus  demonstrating  practical 
Christianity. 

Gratefully  yours, 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 
Second  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 


CHRISTIAN  SCIENTIST  ASSOCIATION       363 

Third  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

Fourth  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

Fifth  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

Sixth  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist, 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Brooklyn, 

Fourth  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Brooklyn, 

First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  Staten  Island, 

Christian  Science  Society,  Bronx, 

Christian  Science  Society,  Flushing,  L.  I., 

By  the  Committee. 
New  York,  N.  Y., 
February  5,  1910. 


MRS.   EDDY  S  REPLY 

This  proof  that  sanity  and  Science  govern  the  Christian 
Science  churches  in  Greater  New  York  is  soul  inspiring. 

Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


[The  Christian  Science  Journal,  July,  1895.     Reprinted  in  Christian 
Science  Sentinel,  November  13,  1909] 

To  the  Members  of  the  Christian  Scientist 
Association 

My  address  before  the  Christian  Scientist  Associa- 
tion has  been  misrepresented  and  evidently  misunder- 
stood by  some  students.  The  gist  of  the  whole  subject 
was  not  to  malpractise  unwittingly.  In  order  to  be 
sure  that  one  is  not  doing  this,  he  must  avoid  naming, 
in  his  mental  treatment,  any  other  individual  but  the 
patient  whom  he  is  treating,  and  practise  only  to  heal. 
Any  deviation   from  this  direct  rule  is  more  or  less 


364  MISCELLANY 

dangerous.     No  mortal  is  infallible,  —  hence  the  Scrip- 
ture, "Judge  no  man." 

The  rule  of  mental  practice  in  Christian  Science  is 
strictly  to  handle  no  other  mentality  but  the  mind  of 
your  patient,  and  treat  this  mind  to  be  Christly.  Any 
departure  from  this  golden  rule  is  inadmissible.  This 
mental  practice  includes  and  inculcates  the  command- 
ment, "Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me." 
Animal  magnetism,  hypnotism,  etc.,  are  disarmed  by 
the  practitioner  who  excludes  from  his  own  conscious- 
ness, and  that  of  his  patients,  all  sense  of  the  realism 
of  any  other  cause  or  effect  save  that  which  cometh 
from  God.  And  he  should  teach  his  students  to  defend 
themselves  from  all  evil,  and  to  heal  the  sick,  by 
recognizing  the  supremacy  and  allness  of  good.  This 
epitomizes  what  heals  all  manner  of  sickness  and  dis- 
ease, moral  or  phj'sical.  ,t         t>  t^ 

^  "^  Mary  Baker  Eddy. 


